Gennavieve
A feminine name derived from Genevieve, of French origin meaning "white wave".
Name Census estimates that about 97 living Americans carry the first name Gennavieve. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gennavieve today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gennavieve births was 2009 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gennavieve. 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 Gennavieve. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
97
~ 1 in 3,533,550 Americans
Peak year
2009
12 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2017 SSA rank
#16,711
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Gennavieve: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gennavieve from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 67 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Gennavieve remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gennavieve 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 Gennavieve 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 Gennavieve
The name Gennavieve has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the combination of the words "genos" meaning "race" or "family" and "vivo" meaning "to live" or "to be alive." This name was particularly popular during the medieval period in parts of Europe, particularly in regions influenced by the Roman Empire and Latin culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gennavieve can be traced back to the 5th century, when a young woman named Gennavieve lived in the city of Paris during the time of the Huns' invasion led by Attila the Hun. According to historical accounts, Gennavieve played a crucial role in rallying the people of Paris and encouraging them to resist the invading forces, ultimately saving the city from destruction.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Gennavieve held great significance in Christian tradition, with several saints bearing this name. One notable figure was Saint Gennavieve, the patron saint of Paris, who lived in the 5th century and was renowned for her piety, wisdom, and charitable deeds.
In the 11th century, a French noblewoman named Gennavieve de Brabant became a popular figure in medieval literature and folklore. Her story, which involved overcoming trials and tribulations, was widely circulated and contributed to the name's enduring popularity.
During the Renaissance period, the name Gennavieve gained further prominence, with several notable figures bearing this name. One such individual was Gennavieve Amic, a French poet and writer who lived in the 16th century and was celebrated for her contributions to the literary world.
In the 18th century, Gennavieve de Gaulle, the aunt of the famous French statesman Charles de Gaulle, was a prominent figure in French society. Her influence and connections played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of her time.
Another notable figure with this name was Gennavieve Bourdon, a French painter and engraver who lived in the 17th century. Her artistic works, particularly her engravings of religious subjects, were highly acclaimed and contributed to the cultural richness of the era.
Throughout history, the name Gennavieve has been borne by many influential individuals across various fields, including literature, art, politics, and religion. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its rich cultural heritage, rooted in the Latin language and the historical significance of those who have carried this name.
People
Gennavieve + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gennavieve 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
Gennavieve: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gennavieve?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 97 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gennavieve 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 3,533,550 US residents.
Is Gennavieve a common name?
We classify Gennavieve as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 98 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gennavieve most popular?
The single biggest year for Gennavieve was 2009, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gennavieve is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gennavieve a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gennavieve 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.