Gennette
A feminine name derived from the French word "genet" (broom plant).
Name Census estimates that about 103 living Americans carry the first name Gennette. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gennette today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gennette births was 1951 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gennette. 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 Gennette is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gennettes were born before 1963.
People living today
103
~ 1 in 3,327,712 Americans
Peak year
1951
14 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1979 SSA rank
#10,714
Tracked since 1929
Popularity
Gennette: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gennette from the 1920s through to the 1970s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 68 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gennette 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 Gennette 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 Gennette
The name Gennette is a feminine given name with roots in the Old French language. It is a variant spelling of the name Genette, which itself is derived from the Old French word "geneste," meaning broom plant or broom shrub.
In the Middle Ages, the broom plant held symbolic significance, often representing humility and resilience due to its ability to thrive in harsh conditions. As such, the name Gennette likely emerged as a reference to these qualities, bestowed upon girls born during this era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gennette can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various medieval French texts and records. However, its usage remained relatively obscure in these early days, primarily confined to certain regions of France.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Gennette, though their stories and legacies vary widely. One such individual was Gennette de Brabant (c. 1130-1186), a Flemish noblewoman and the second wife of King Stephen of England. Records indicate that her presence at the English court played a pivotal role in securing the throne for her stepson, Henry II.
Another historical figure with the name Gennette was Gennette de Courtenay (c. 1245-1307), a French noblewoman and the Countess of Nevers. She was known for her involvement in the Eighth Crusade and her role in the defense of the city of Tripoli during the conflict.
In the realm of literature, Gennette de Brachieux (c. 1380-1450) was a French poet and courtier who served under the Duke of Burgundy. Her works, though largely forgotten today, were celebrated in her time for their lyrical and romantic qualities.
Moving into the Renaissance era, Gennette de Bourbon (1516-1566) was a French princess and the daughter of Charles IV, Duke of Bourbon. Her life was marked by political turmoil, as she was briefly imprisoned during the French Wars of Religion due to her Catholic faith.
Finally, in more recent centuries, Gennette Puaux (1862-1936) was a French painter and sculptor who gained recognition for her portraits and allegorical works. Her art was exhibited at several prestigious salons in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the name Gennette has waxed and waned in popularity over the centuries, its rich history and symbolic associations with resilience and humility have endured, offering a glimpse into the cultural and linguistic tapestry of its origins.
People
Gennette + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gennette 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
Gennette: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gennette?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 103 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gennette 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 3,327,712 US residents.
Is Gennette a common name?
We classify Gennette as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 187 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gennette most popular?
The single biggest year for Gennette was 1951, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gennette is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gennette a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gennette 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.