Find out how popular the first name Genevieve has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Genevieve by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Genevieve is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Genevieve being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,734 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Genevieve.

The history of the first name Genevieve

The name Genevieve originated from the medieval French Geneviève, which is derived from the Germanic Gewinniva. The name is composed of the elements gewin, meaning "woman" or "wife", and sibb, meaning "akin" or "peace". It is a feminine form of the masculine name Gewin.

Genevieve gained popularity as a Christian name due to the influence of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who lived in the 5th century. According to legend, she played a crucial role in encouraging the Parisians to resist the Huns led by Attila during their siege of the city in 451 AD.

The earliest recorded use of the name Genevieve dates back to the 6th century. In the Middle Ages, it was a popular name among the French nobility and royalty. One notable bearer was Genevieve of Brabant, a 7th-century Belgian princess who became a popular subject of medieval legends and folklore.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Genevieve. Genevieve de Gaulle-Anthonioz (1920-2002) was a French Resistance fighter during World War II and a prominent human rights activist. Genevieve Ward (1837-1922) was an American actress and playwright known for her performances in Shakespearean roles.

Genevieve Nnaji (born 1979) is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Genevieve Bujold (born 1942) is a Canadian actress known for her roles in films such as Anne of the Thousand Days and Coma.

Genevieve Habert (1910-1996) was a French mathematician and computer scientist, notable for her contributions to the development of early programming languages and the design of the LACARI programming system. She was a pioneer in the field of computer science and one of the first women to make significant contributions to the discipline.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Genevieve was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Genevieve, please contact us.

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