According to the baby-naming website Verywell Family, the name “Jennifer” means “fair one.” The name derives from the older “Guinevere,” which has come to be uniquely identified with the legendarily beautiful wife of King Arthur of Camelot. Over the years, the media has been dominated by Jennifers who have lived up to this association — everyone from singers to actors, even directors and women of science. The world has affectionately nicknamed each of these incredible women as we’ve come to know them: J.Hud, J.Lo and J.Law are today part of the extensive list of Jennifers that we have all come to know and love.
As far as entertainment goes, an extensive list of Jennifer’s dominate: The likes of actresses such as Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Garner are perhaps some of the most well-known names in Hollywood. Aniston played the iconic Rachel Green in the hit ‘90s show “Friends.” The beloved character has become the source of inspiration for people in many different outlets today; from her endlessly fashionable wardrobe to the eponymous hairstyle women have asked for in hair salons all around the world, Aniston as Rachel Green is a much-loved icon both within and outside the “Friends” universe.
Garner is no less easily identified, with a diverse repertoire of movies and characters that span over her impressive three-decade career. The 2004 rom-com “13 Going On 30” that features Garner as the main character, Jenna Rink, is now a timeless coming-of-age film whose charms and individuality are not lost on younger viewers today.
When famous pop star Ariana Grande released the music video for her 2018 hit “thank u, next,” the singer appeared in the likeness of Rink and the internet couldn’t get enough of the reference. Even now, during Grande’s first season as a coach on the show “The Voice,” the singer once again referenced Rink by wearing a Versace-made replica of the infamous green and blue dress Garner’s character wore toward the climax of the film. Garner has also featured in other iconic films and TV shows such as “Pearl Harbor,” “Alias” and the “Daredevil” spinoff, “Elektra.”
Many other great actresses named Jennifer exist in the world of film and TV. IMDb has even made a list to help us out, featuring “The Hunger Games” and “X-Men” star Jennifer Lawrence — whose comedic and relatable personality has won the world over as much as her stellar acting — as well as the beautiful Jennifer Connelly (“Labyrinth,” “Requiem For A Dream”). The nasal inflections of Jennifer Coolidge’s characters have become almost more infamous than the woman herself, while the name Jennifer Grey transports many nostalgic fans back to the days of “Dirty Dancing” and “Ferris’ Bueller’s Day Off.”
Even titular Jennifer movies exist, such as the 2009 horror comedy “Jennifer’s Body” starring Megan Fox, as well as the 1978 horror “Jennifer” featuring Lisa Pelikan. Additionally, characters named Jennifer from movies and shows like “Marley & Me,” “The Office,” “Criminal Minds” and “Gossip Girl” have also become familiar and well-loved.
Famous singers such as Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Hudson have also dominated over their careers: Lopez has become an icon in both film and music, boasting an extensive filmography as well as eight studio albums featuring tracks such as “Waiting For Tonight,” “On The Floor” and “Ain’t Your Mama” that have maintained popularity throughout the years. Lopez is also an avid dancer, earning the triple-threat 52-year-old a wide fanbase that has enjoyed her talents from all angles.
Hudson is certainly no less impressive, with both a film and singing career as well. Rising to fame because of her powerful vocals on the TV show “American Idol,” Hudson has since went on to be cast in movies such as “Winnie Mandela,” “Cats” and “Sex and the City.”
Despite her vast film career, Hudson’s discography has also won over many fans: Through her three studio albums and collection of popular singles, the singer has mustered a large fan base with her vocals that have sung everything from R&B and hip-hop to Broadway hits. She was even handpicked by the late Aretha Franklin to play her in the great singer’s 2021 biopic, “Respect.” The similarities in the two powerhouses’ lives brought them together ever since Hudson starred in the 2007 film “Dreamgirls,” which earned her Franklin’s attention and friendship.
Behind the camera, famous filmmaker Jennifer Lee has also made a name for herself, becoming the chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Outside of entertainment, other great Jennifers exist: Jennifer Doudna, an American biochemist, is well-known for working on a scientific technique known as CRISPR (or “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”) used in the field of genetics. The technique has revolutionized genome editing, which might come to play an important role in widespread disease regulation in the future. Activist Jennifer Jako has become a well-known HIV activist, producing the documentary series “Blood Lines” to assist in her campaign to educate people on the virus.
The list could go on and on. Women named Jennifer seem to be at the center of recognition and public respect. While there are certainly many other equally remarkable women with other beautiful names, the name Jennifer has come to be one associated with class, talent and skill. Perhaps if you know someone expecting a baby girl — or if you yourself are expecting — consider the name Jennifer, especially if the women discussed above are anything to go by.
