Jenea
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Jennie or Jean.
Name Census estimates that about 768 living Americans carry the first name Jenea. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jenea today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jenea births was 1984 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jenea. 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
768
~ 1 in 446,295 Americans
Peak year
1984
52 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
2013 SSA rank
#17,765
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Jenea: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jenea from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 295 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jenea 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 Jenea during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jeneas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, New York, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Jenea, while Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 24 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jenea
The name Jenea has its origins in the ancient Greek language and culture, dating back to the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "genos," which means "race" or "family." The name was likely used to signify one's lineage or ancestry.
In ancient Greek mythology, there are references to the name Jenea being associated with the goddess Athena, who was the patron deity of Athens and the embodiment of wisdom, courage, and strategic warfare. Some scholars believe that the name Jenea may have been used as an epithet or honorific title for Athena, reflecting her role as the protector of the city and its people.
The earliest recorded use of the name Jenea dates back to the 4th century BC, when it was inscribed on a marble stele (a stone slab) found in the ancient city of Delphi. This stele honored a woman named Jenea, who was likely a prominent citizen or benefactor of the city.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jenea, although it has remained relatively rare compared to other Greek names. One of the earliest recorded examples is Jenea of Corinth (c. 350 BC), a celebrated poet and philosopher who wrote extensively on the nature of love and beauty.
Another prominent figure was Jenea of Ephesus (c. 100 AD), a renowned physician and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of medicine in the ancient world. Her treatise on the medicinal properties of herbs and plants was widely studied and referenced for centuries.
In the Byzantine era, Jenea Doukas (c. 1025 - 1092) was a noble woman who played a pivotal role in the political intrigues of the imperial court. She was known for her intelligence, cunning, and unwavering loyalty to her family.
During the Renaissance period, Jenea Sixtina (1475 - 1534) was an Italian painter and poet who gained recognition for her vivid portrayals of religious subjects and her poetic works exploring themes of love and spirituality.
In more recent history, Jenea Tallien (1773 - 1835) was a influential figure during the French Revolution. She was celebrated for her beauty, wit, and political influence, and her salons in Paris were frequented by many influential figures of the time.
Overall, the name Jenea has a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting its ancient Greek origins and the diverse individuals who have borne this name throughout the centuries.
People
Jenea + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jenea as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jenea: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jenea?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 768 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jenea 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 446,295 US residents.
Is Jenea a common name?
We classify Jenea as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 810 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jenea most popular?
The single biggest year for Jenea was 1984, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jenea is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jenea a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jenea 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.