Jen

Welsh

"white shadow, white wave"

Jen Origin and Meaning

The name Jen is a girl's name.

Jen is a short, crisp feminine name that originated primarily as a diminutive of Jennifer, though it can also be a nickname for names like Jenna, Jenny, or Genevieve. The root name Jennifer comes from the Welsh 'Gwenhwyfar,' meaning 'white wave' or 'fair spirit.' Jen gained independent usage during the 1970s and 1980s when Jennifer was at peak popularity, with some parents choosing to put just 'Jen' on the birth certificate. Its simplicity and directness appeal to those preferring unpretentious, straightforward names. While Jen's popularity as a stand-alone name has declined since the 1990s, it maintains appeal for its brevity and friendly, approachable quality. The name carries a casual confidence and remains recognizable without being overly common as a formal name.

Famous People Named Jen

• Jennifer Ann "Jen" Kirkman American comedienne
• Jennifer "Jen" Lancaster American author
• Jennifer Carole "Jen" Ledger English drummer of band Skillet
• Reverend Jennifer "Jen" Miller American performance artist
• Jennifer Rene "Jen" Psaki U.S. White House Communications Director
• Jennifer "Jen" Button Canadian swimmer
• Jen Soska Canadian film producer, twin sister of Sylvia Soska
• Jen Ruggirello Buzzfeed producer

The name Jen in Pop Culture

• Jennifer "Jen" Lindley a main character on TV's "Dawson's Creek"
• Jen Barber character on British TV series "The IT Crowd"
• Jen Handley character on Australian soap "Neighbours"
• Jen Carcetti character on TV's "The Wire"
• Jen character in movie "The Dark Knight Rises"
• Jennifer "Jen" character in novel series "Real Friends"
• Jennifer "Jen K" Kenney character in series "Greek"
• Jennifer "Jen" Ann Masterson main character in series "6teen"