Gesenia
A feminine name derived from the Spanish word geseno, meaning "flower".
Name Census estimates that about 148 living Americans carry the first name Gesenia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gesenia today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gesenia births was 1979 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gesenia. 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
148
~ 1 in 2,315,908 Americans
Peak year
1979
15 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
1995 SSA rank
#10,902
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Gesenia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gesenia from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 84 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gesenia 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 Gesenia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gesenias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, California, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Gesenia, while New Jersey, California, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gesenia
The name Gesenia has its roots in ancient Greek culture, emerging during the Classical period of Greek civilization around the 5th century BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word "gesinos," which means "of the earth" or "earthy." This connection to the natural world and the soil likely stems from the importance of agriculture in ancient Greek society.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was Gesenia of Cyrene, a philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 4th century BCE. She is noted for her contributions to the field of geometry and her association with the renowned philosopher Plato, who praised her intellect and regarded her as one of his most promising students.
In the realm of Greek mythology, the name Gesenia is sometimes linked to the goddess Demeter, the deity of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest. This association further reinforces the name's connection to the earth and its bountiful resources.
During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century CE, the name Gesenia gained popularity among the Greek-speaking population of the Eastern Roman Empire. One notable figure from this period was Gesenia of Constantinople, a prominent scholar and theologian who lived in the 9th century CE. Her writings on Christian doctrine and philosophy were highly influential within the Eastern Orthodox Church.
In the 12th century CE, Gesenia of Palermo, a Sicilian poet and writer, gained recognition for her lyrical works celebrating the beauty of nature and the human experience. Her poems were widely circulated and admired throughout the Mediterranean region.
Another influential figure bearing this name was Gesenia of Trebizond, a 15th century Byzantine princess and scholar who played a significant role in the preservation and dissemination of classical Greek literature during the Renaissance period. Her patronage of scholars and artists contributed greatly to the revival of ancient Greek knowledge in Western Europe.
While the name Gesenia is not as common today as it once was in the ancient Greek world, it has left an indelible mark on history through the remarkable individuals who have carried it over the centuries. Its deep-rooted connection to the earth and nature continues to resonate, reminding us of the enduring legacy of ancient Greek culture and its profound impact on our understanding of the world around us.
People
Gesenia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gesenia 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
Gesenia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gesenia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 148 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gesenia 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 2,315,908 US residents.
Is Gesenia a common name?
We classify Gesenia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 160 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gesenia most popular?
The single biggest year for Gesenia was 1979, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gesenia is about 45 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gesenia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gesenia 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.