Gladys

Updated: October 4, 2023 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Gladys is an old-fashioned baby name, coming from ancient Wales. It became popular at the turn of the twentieth century because of several romantic authors. As of 2021, Gladys is a top 4,200 option.

Meaning of the Name Gladys

The baby name Gladys originates from the Old Welsh option, Gwladus. Gwladus comes from the Welsh word “gwlad.” Some individuals believe that Gladys is the Welsh version of Claudia, a name that dates back to the New Testament.

Gladys likely originates from the ancient Welsh name Gwladus. Gwladus, as mentioned comes from the Welsh “gwlad.” “Gwlad” translates to “country.” Others believe that Gladys comes from Claudia, a variation of the Latin “claudus,” which means “lame” or “crippled.”

Outdoor portrait of 12 years old girl with long hair — ©Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock.com

Nicknames for Gladys

Gladys is a kind and humble baby name. It is vintage and simple. Since a name like Gladys is more traditional and has been around for some time, there's plenty of options when it comes to a nickname. Below, we've compiled some possible nicknames for the Gladys in your life:

Glad
Gladi
Glady
Lady
Ladys
Glay
Laly
Gigi

Gladys Name Details

Style: Traditional

Gender: Gladys is traditionally considered to be a girls name.

Pronunciation: GLAD-is

Syllables: Two

Alternative Spelling for Gladys

Gladis
Glladys
Glladis

Gladys Name Popularity

The baby name Gladys was a top 50 name in America until 1930, ranking highest in 1901 at number 11. Gladys remained a top 100 option until 1937, remaining on the top 1,000 list until 1999. As of 2021, Gladys is a top 4,200 option at rank 4,131.