Geneen
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "heaven" or "garden".
Name Census estimates that about 195 living Americans carry the first name Geneen. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Geneen today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Geneen births was 1966 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Geneen. 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
195
~ 1 in 1,757,715 Americans
Peak year
1966
15 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1990 SSA rank
#13,699
Tracked since 1952
Popularity
Geneen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Geneen from the 1950s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 100 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Geneen 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 Geneen 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 Geneen
The name Geneen is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, dating back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "jannah," which means "garden" or "paradise." The name was likely given to children as a way of wishing them a life filled with beauty, serenity, and prosperity.
In the early days of Islam, the name Geneen was relatively uncommon, but it gained popularity as the religion spread across the Middle East and North Africa. It was particularly favored among the wealthy and influential families who had access to lush gardens and luxurious lifestyles.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Geneen can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and scholar, Al-Mutanabbi, who lived in the 10th century CE. He mentioned a woman named Geneen in one of his poems, praising her beauty and grace.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Geneen. One of the most famous was Geneen bint Al-Walid (born around 630 CE), a respected Islamic scholar and poet from Arabia. She was known for her extensive knowledge of the Quran and her contributions to the field of Islamic literature.
Another notable Geneen was Geneen al-Baghdadi (1162-1233 CE), a renowned female mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. She made significant contributions to the study of algebra and helped advance the field of astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 19th century, Geneen Sadiq (1828-1901) was a prominent Egyptian feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and education. She established one of the first schools for girls in Egypt and worked tirelessly to improve the status of women in her society.
More recently, Geneen Roth (born 1950) is an American author and speaker who has written extensively on the topics of emotional eating, body image, and self-acceptance. Her books, such as "Women, Food, and God," have been widely acclaimed and have helped countless individuals develop a healthier relationship with food and their bodies.
Geneen Maria Haugen (1918-2006) was a Norwegian-American actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career. She is best known for her roles in the classic films "Casablanca" and "The Maltese Falcon."
While the name Geneen has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended borders and gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly among those who appreciate its beautiful meaning and historical significance.
People
Geneen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Geneen 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
Geneen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Geneen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 195 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Geneen 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 1,757,715 US residents.
Is Geneen a common name?
We classify Geneen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 227 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Geneen most popular?
The single biggest year for Geneen was 1966, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Geneen is about 55 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Geneen a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Geneen 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.