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Glennis

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How to Pronounce Glennis

Pronounced GLEN-iss /ˈɡlɛn.ɪs/Medium

Meaning: Glennis is a variant of the Welsh Glenys, from glan, 'pure, clean, holy.' The doubled n also makes it read as a feminine partner to Glen, the Scottish and Welsh word for a valley. Either way it belongs to the family of gentle Welsh -is and -ys names popular in the mid-twentieth century.Medium

In 30 seconds: Glennis is a Welsh-rooted name, a form of Glenys meaning 'pure,' also read as a feminine of Glen. A soft mid-century pick, it crested around 1947.

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Origin MediumWelsh

MeaningGlennis is a variant of the Welsh Glenys, from glan, 'pure, clean, holy.' The doubled n also makes it read as a feminine partner to Glen, the Scottish and Welsh word for a valley. Either way it belongs to the family of gentle Welsh -is and -ys names popular in the mid-twentieth century.

U.S. rank (1997)#12631 ↗ Rising

1997 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1947

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,056

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Glennis traces to the Welsh Glenys, built on glan, 'pure' or 'holy,' and doubles as a feminine echo of Glen, 'valley.' The soft opening and hissing -is ending gave it a fresh, lyrical feel that suited the nineteen-forties, when Welsh and Welsh-style names were briefly fashionable in America.

Cresting in the late forties, Glennis belongs to the grandmother generation today. It faded with the rest of the Glen- family and has not revived, though its clean meaning and gentle sound could appeal to a parent drawn to overlooked mid-century names.

Did you know? Glennis sits in the mid-century vogue for Welsh-sounding girls' names like Glenda and Glenys. It appears from the nineteen-teens and crested around 1947 at roughly five dozen girls a year, riding the same wave that made Glenda a star of the era.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Glennis — Welsh Glenys from glan 'pure'; feminine echo of Glen; mid-century Glen- vogue

Variations

GlenysGlynnisGlenice

Nicknames

GlenGlennie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Glennis…

Glenda— the mid-century Welsh-style name it rose alongside

Carys— a like Welsh girl's name meaning something tender

Bronwyn— another soft Welsh name of the same family

Glynis— a similarly popular pick

Gladis— a fellow Welsh choice

Explore names like Glennis

By themevintage welsh mid-century

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Glennis mean?

Glennis is a form of the Welsh Glenys, from glan 'pure, holy'; it also reads as a feminine of Glen, 'valley.'

How do you pronounce Glennis?

It's said GLEN-iss — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Glennis a boy or girl name?

Glennis is a girl's name.

Is Glennis making a comeback?

Not yet — it remains a mid-century rarity, though its Welsh cousins are quietly of interest to vintage-name fans.