Genghis
A given name of Mongolian origin meaning "supreme ruler" or "universal leader".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Genghis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Genghis today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genghis births was 1972 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genghis. 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 Genghis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1972
6 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2021 SSA rank
#12,757
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Genghis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Genghis from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Genghis 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 Genghis 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 Genghis
The name Genghis is derived from the Mongolian word "Genghis Khan", which translates to "universal ruler" or "supreme warrior". It was the title bestowed upon Temüjin, the founder of the Mongol Empire, who lived from 1162 to 1227 CE. The name originated in the Mongolian steppe region of Central Asia during the 12th century.
Genghis Khan was born with the name Temüjin, but he later adopted the title Genghis Khan after uniting the Mongol tribes and establishing the largest contiguous land empire in history. His name became synonymous with his military prowess and conquests, which spanned from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan.
The name Genghis first appeared in historical records and chronicles written by Persian and Chinese scholars during the 13th century, documenting the rise of the Mongol Empire and the exploits of Genghis Khan. These records provided detailed accounts of his life, military campaigns, and the impact of his reign on the regions he conquered.
One of the earliest known individuals named Genghis was Genghis Khan himself, who was born in 1162 in present-day Mongolia. After his death in 1227, several of his descendants and successors also bore the name Genghis, carrying on the legacy of the Mongol Empire.
Throughout history, the name Genghis has been associated with a handful of notable figures, including:
1. Genghis Khan (1162-1227), the founder of the Mongol Empire and one of the most influential military leaders in history.
2. Genghis Khan (1554-1594), a Mongolian ruler and grandson of Dayan Khan, who briefly ruled the Northern Yuan dynasty.
3. Genghis Khan (1915-1945), a Mongolian revolutionary and communist leader who played a significant role in the Mongolian People's Republic.
4. Genghis Khan (1952-2012), a Mongolian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia from 1998 to 2000.
5. Genghis Khan (born 1981), a Mongolian professional wrestler and former sumo wrestler, who competed under the name Asashōryū Akinori.
While the name Genghis is deeply rooted in Mongolian history and culture, its association with the legendary Mongol conqueror has made it a recognizable name across the world, often evoking connotations of strength, leadership, and military prowess.
People
Genghis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genghis 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
Genghis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genghis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genghis 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 Genghis a common name?
We classify Genghis 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, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genghis most popular?
The single biggest year for Genghis was 1972, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genghis is about 32 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 Genghis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Genghis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genghis in the SSA data are male. 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 Genghis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Genghis 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 Genghis 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 many people are named Genghis?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people share the name Genghis at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.