Genae
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "cheeks" or "corners of the eyes".
Name Census estimates that about 301 living Americans carry the first name Genae. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Genae today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genae births was 1990 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genae. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
301
~ 1 in 1,138,719 Americans
Peak year
1990
14 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2021 SSA rank
#14,068
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Genae: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Genae from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 112 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Genae by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Genae during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Genae
The given name Genae has its origins in ancient Greece, where it was derived from the Greek word "genos," meaning "race" or "offspring." The name was initially associated with the notion of lineage and ancestry, reflecting the deep-rooted pride the Greeks had in their familial ties and heritage.
During the classical era, the name Genae was not widely used, but it gained prominence in the Byzantine period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of the 6th-century historian Procopius of Caesarea, who mentioned a noblewoman named Genae in his work "The Secret History."
As Christianity spread throughout the Byzantine Empire, the name Genae took on a religious connotation. Some scholars suggest that it may have been derived from the Greek word "gennao," meaning "to beget" or "to give birth," alluding to the divine creation and birth of Christ. This connection likely contributed to the name's popularity among devout Christian communities.
In the Middle Ages, the name Genae appeared in various monastic records and chronicles. One notable figure bearing this name was Genae of Laon, a 12th-century Benedictine abbess renowned for her piety and leadership of the Abbey of St. John in Laon, France.
During the Renaissance period, the name Genae resurfaced in the works of humanist scholars and writers. Italian poet and philosopher Genae Gambara (1492-1563) was celebrated for her literary contributions and her role in the intellectual circles of Renaissance Italy.
In the 18th century, Genae Boulanger (1737-1759), a French artist and painter, gained recognition for her exceptional talent and skill in portraiture. Despite her untimely death at the age of 22, her works have been preserved and admired by art historians.
The 19th century saw the name Genae grace the stage, with Genae Favart (1818-1892), a renowned French actress and comedienne, captivating audiences with her performances in various Parisian theaters.
As the world entered the modern era, the name Genae continued to be passed down through generations, though its usage became less common. Nevertheless, its rich historical legacy and associations with ancestry, faith, and artistic expression have endured, making it a unique and meaningful choice for those seeking a name with deep cultural roots.
People
Genae + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genae as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Genae: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genae?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 301 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genae going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,138,719 US residents.
Is Genae a common name?
We classify Genae as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 314 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genae most popular?
The single biggest year for Genae was 1990, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genae is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Genae a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genae in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.