Genova
Of Italian origin, meaning "from Genoa," the coastal city in northwest Italy.
Name Census estimates that about 140 living Americans carry the first name Genova. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Genova today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genova births was 1991 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genova. 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.
People living today
140
~ 1 in 2,448,245 Americans
Peak year
1991
19 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,010
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Genova: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Genova from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 56 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
Genova 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 Genova during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Genovas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Genova
The name Genova is derived from the Italian city of Genoa, located in the northwestern region of Liguria. The city dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was founded by the ancient Ligurians. The name Genova itself has its roots in the Latin word "Genua," which referred to the city's location on a prominent bend or "knee" in the coastline.
During the Middle Ages, the Republic of Genoa was a major maritime power in the Mediterranean, with a thriving economy centered around trade and naval prowess. The name Genova gained prominence during this time, as the city's influence and reputation spread throughout Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Genova can be found in the 12th-century epic poem "Chanson de Roland," which recounts the exploits of the legendary Frankish knight Roland. In the poem, a character named Genova is mentioned as a warrior fighting alongside Roland.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Genova. One such figure was Genova di Negro (1350-1418), a Genoese admiral and military leader who played a crucial role in the Republic's naval campaigns against Venice and other rivals in the Mediterranean.
Another famous Genova was Genova Tornielli (1541-1622), an Italian painter and architect who worked extensively in the Baroque style. His most notable works include the Church of San Siro in Genoa and the Palazzo Tornielli in Milan.
In the realm of literature, Genova Boccaccio (1313-1375) was a renowned Italian author and poet, best known for his masterpiece "The Decameron," a collection of novellas that vividly portrayed life in 14th-century Italy.
More recently, Genova Gambini (1905-1976) was an Italian politician and journalist who served as the editor of the influential newspaper "Il Secolo XIX" for many years. He was also a prominent figure in the Italian Communist Party and played a role in the resistance against fascism during World War II.
Another notable Genova was Genova Cassese (1929-2011), an Italian jurist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of administrative law. He served as a judge on the Constitutional Court of Italy and was widely respected for his expertise and integrity.
People
Genova + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genova 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
Genova: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genova?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 140 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genova 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 2,448,245 US residents.
Is Genova a common name?
We classify Genova as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 245 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genova most popular?
The single biggest year for Genova was 1991, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genova is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Genova a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genova 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.