Genevra
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "woman of Geneva".
Name Census estimates that about 95 living Americans carry the first name Genevra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Genevra today is around 57 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genevra births was 1921 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genevra. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Genevra. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
95
~ 1 in 3,607,940 Americans
Peak year
1921
20 babies that year
Average age
57
years old
2004 SSA rank
#16,992
Tracked since 1882
Popularity
Genevra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Genevra from the 1880s through to the 2000s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 87 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
Genevra 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 Genevra 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 Genevra
The name Genevra has its roots in the French language and culture, originating from the Latin name "Genovefa" or "Genoveva." It is a feminine form of the Old German name "Kenowefa," derived from the elements "keno" (brave) and "wefa" (weaver). This name's earliest known origins can be traced back to the 5th century.
The name Genevra gained widespread recognition and popularity due to its association with Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who lived in the 5th century AD. According to legend, she played a pivotal role in preventing the Huns from invading and destroying Paris, earning her the title of the "Protector of Paris."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Genevra can be found in the literary works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the renowned English poet of the 14th century. In his famous work, "The Canterbury Tales," Chaucer introduced a character named Genevra, solidifying the name's presence in English literature.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Genevra. One such figure was Genevra de' Benci (1457-1520), an Italian Renaissance noblewoman who commissioned a portrait from the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci. This portrait is now housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Another influential figure was Genevra Littlewood (1881-1967), a British mathematician and academic. She made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of analysis and number theory. Littlewood's work laid the foundation for modern mathematics education.
In the literary world, Genevra Sedgwick (1870-1924) was an American novelist and short story writer. Her works often explored themes of social inequality and the struggles of women in the early 20th century. Her novel "The Damnation of Theron Ware" received critical acclaim and is considered a classic of American literature.
Genevra O'Reilly (1932-2016) was an Irish actress and writer who had a successful career on stage, television, and film. She is best known for her roles in productions such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "Doctor Who."
Finally, Genevra Forster (1766-1849) was a Swiss-born English writer and diarist. Her diaries and letters provide valuable insights into the social and cultural life of the late 18th and early 19th centuries in England, offering a unique perspective on the lives of women during that era.
People
Genevra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genevra 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
Genevra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genevra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 95 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genevra 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 3,607,940 US residents.
Is Genevra a common name?
We classify Genevra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 63.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 307 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genevra most popular?
The single biggest year for Genevra was 1921, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genevra is about 57 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Genevra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genevra 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.