Geena Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEE-nah //ˈdʒiː.nə//
Origin: English; Italian
Meaning: English: God is gracious; Italian: Variant of Gina
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Geena is a modern variant of the name Gina, which itself is often derived from the Italian name Gianna, a diminutive of Giovanna, the feminine form of Giovanni. Giovanni has its roots in the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." This name passed into Greek as Ioannes and then into Latin as Johannes, eventually evolving into various forms across different languages, including the Italian Gianna and the English Jane.
The transition into English occurred through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which introduced many Norman names into the English lexicon, including variations of Giovanni. Historically, the name Gianna has been borne by various saints, notably Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian pediatrician canonized in the 21st century, who is celebrated for her dedication to her family and profession.
The name's association with grace and divine favor has contributed to its enduring appeal. The use of the name Gina became popular in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a standalone name and as a diminutive of names like Georgina and Virginia.
Culturally, names derived from Giovanni have been significant in various traditions, often symbolizing a connection to religious grace and favor. The name Geena, while modern, carries these historical and cultural resonances, reflecting a lineage that emphasizes grace and divine blessing.
The diminutive Gina has also been a popular form, often used affectionately, which further illustrates the name's adaptability and enduring nature across cultures.
Famous people named Geena
In this section, you will find notable people named Geena. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Geena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Geena who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Geena Davis is an actress and producer best known for Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own, and Beetlejuice.
Geena Davis is an advocate for gender equality in media and the founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Geena, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Geena. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Geena was first seen in the United States in 1956.
Geena has ranked as high as #1074 nationally, which occurred in 1994, and has been most popular in California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Geena has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Geena is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Geena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Geena (2006)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 | |
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Geena.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2003 | 35 |
| 2002 | 49 |
| 2001 | 71 |
| 2000 | 67 |
| 1999 | 61 |
| 1998 | 68 |
| 1997 | 72 |
| 1996 | 85 |
| 1995 | 116 |
| 1994 | 163 |
| 1993 | 121 |
| 1992 | 117 |
| 1991 | 95 |
| 1990 | 68 |
| 1989 | 79 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1985 | 20 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1963 | 9 |
| 1956 | 5 |