Genever
An English name derived from the Dutch word for juniper berries, the principal flavoring ingredient in the jenever-style of gin.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Genever. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Genever today is around 91 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genever births was 1924 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genever. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Genever is about 91 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Genevers were born before 1945.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Genever. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1924
20 babies that year
Average age
91
years old
1944 SSA rank
#4,809
Tracked since 1900
Popularity
Genever: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Genever from the 1900s through to the 1940s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 110 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Genever 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 Genever during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Genevers live
Origin
Meaning and history of Genever
The given name Genever has its roots in the Dutch language and culture. It is derived from the word "jenever," which refers to the traditional Dutch spirit known as gin. The name likely originated in the Netherlands during the late 16th or early 17th century, when the production and consumption of jenever became widespread.
Genever's connection to the Dutch spirit is strong, as the name is closely tied to the history and traditions surrounding this iconic Dutch beverage. The earliest recorded instances of the name Genever can be traced back to the 17th century, when it was used as a first name in Dutch-speaking regions.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Genever was a Dutch merchant and trader named Genever van Haarlem, who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his contribution to the Dutch economy during the Golden Age.
Another notable figure with the name Genever was Genever de Vries, a Dutch painter and engraver who lived in the 18th century. He was renowned for his intricate etchings and his mastery of the Dutch Baroque style.
In the 19th century, Genever van der Linden was a prominent Dutch politician and lawyer. He played a significant role in shaping the Dutch legal system and advocated for progressive reforms during his time as a member of the Dutch parliament.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Genever was Genever van Rijn, a Dutch composer and musician who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His compositions, which blended traditional Dutch folk melodies with contemporary musical styles, earned him widespread acclaim and recognition.
Genever van Dijk was a Dutch athlete who competed in the early 20th century. She was a pioneering figure in women's sports, excelling in various track and field events and setting several national records during her career.
While the name Genever has its roots in Dutch culture and history, it has also been adopted and used in other regions and cultures over time. However, its strong connection to the traditional Dutch spirit and the Netherlands remains a defining aspect of its origin and meaning.
People
Genever + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genever 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
Genever: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genever?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genever 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Genever a common name?
We classify Genever as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 240 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genever most popular?
The single biggest year for Genever was 1924, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genever is about 91 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Genever in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Genever a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genever 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.
Is Genever still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Genever in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Genever can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Genever?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.