When was Gladys most popular?

The name Gladys reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Gladys Dufour?

The name Gladys Dufour combines two different traditions: the first name Gladys has Welsh roots, while the surname Dufour originates from French.

Gladys Dufour — 318K & 5K bearers

Gladys Dufour is a name that combines Welsh origins. The first name Gladys is a feminine given name of Welsh origin. Gladys (or, alternately, Gladis) is a female name from the Welsh name Gwladus or Gwladys, which is of uncertain meaning. It was the name of Gwladys, a Welsh queen who lived in the late 5th century and early 6th century and became a Christian saint. The name was also used for other Welsh noblewomen, but declined in use in Wales after 1500. The name was used mainly by Welsh nationalists in the mid-1800s. It was popularized in the late 1800s in the Anglosphere after it was used for the heroine of the historical romance novel Gladys of Harlech by Louisa M. The surname Dufour: Alma Dufour (born 1990), French politician Amanda Ruter Dufour (1822–1899), American poet Antoine Dufour (born 1979), French-Canadian acoustic guitarist Barry Dufour (born 1942), British academic and author Bernard Dufour (1922–2016), French painter Camille Dufour (1925–2025), French trade unionist and politician Carmen Dufour (born 1954), Swiss author Catherine Dufour (born 1966), French SF and fantasy writer Cathrine Dufour (born 1992), Danish Olympic dressage rider and influencer Charles Dufour (born 1940), Archbishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica Charles L. Gladys is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 318K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Gladys reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Gladys

Welsh

Gladys (or, alternately, Gladis) is a female name from the Welsh name Gwladus or Gwladys, which is of uncertain meaning. It was the name of Gwladys, a Welsh queen who lived in the late 5th century and early 6th century and became a Christian saint. The name was also used for other Welsh noblewomen, but declined in use in Wales after 1500. The name was used mainly by Welsh nationalists in the mid-1800s. It was popularized in the late 1800s in the Anglosphere after it was used for the heroine of the historical romance novel Gladys of Harlech by Louisa M.

Surname: Dufour

French

Alma Dufour (born 1990), French politician Amanda Ruter Dufour (1822–1899), American poet Antoine Dufour (born 1979), French-Canadian acoustic guitarist Barry Dufour (born 1942), British academic and author Bernard Dufour (1922–2016), French painter Camille Dufour (1925–2025), French trade unionist and politician Carmen Dufour (born 1954), Swiss author Catherine Dufour (born 1966), French SF and fantasy writer Cathrine Dufour (born 1992), Danish Olympic dressage rider and influencer Charles Dufour (born 1940), Archbishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica Charles L.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Gladys is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Gladys by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Gladys Dufour

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Gladys Dufour:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

4

Soul Urge Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

5

Personality Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Gladys?: The first name Gladys originates from Welsh. Gladys (or, alternately, Gladis) is a female name from the Welsh name Gwladus or Gwladys, which is of uncertain meaning. It was the name of Gwladys, a Welsh queen who lived in the late 5th century and early 6th century and became a Christian saint. The name was also used for other Welsh noblewomen, but declined in use in Wales after 1500. The name was used mainly by Welsh nationalists in the mid-1800s. It was popularized in the late 1800s in the Anglosphere after it was used for the heroine of the historical romance novel Gladys of Harlech by Louisa M.
When was Gladys most popular?: The name Gladys reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Dufour?: The surname Dufour originates from French. Alma Dufour (born 1990), French politician Amanda Ruter Dufour (1822–1899), American poet Antoine Dufour (born 1979), French-Canadian acoustic guitarist Barry Dufour (born 1942), British academic and author Bernard Dufour (1922–2016), French painter Camille Dufour (1925–2025), French trade unionist and politician Carmen Dufour (born 1954), Swiss author Catherine Dufour (born 1966), French SF and fantasy writer Cathrine Dufour (born 1992), Danish Olympic dressage rider and influencer Charles Dufour (born 1940), Archbishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica Charles L.
What are the origins of the name Gladys Dufour?: The name Gladys Dufour combines two different traditions: the first name Gladys has Welsh roots, while the surname Dufour originates from French.