Gena Girl

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEE-nah /ˈdʒiː.nə/

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: Woman of the people; Hebrew: God is gracious

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Gena is derived from the name Genevieve, which has its roots in the Old French form "Geneviève." This name itself is believed to originate from the Proto-Germanic elements "kena," meaning "kin" or "family," and "wefa," which translates to "woman" or "wife." The transition into English occurred through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where many Old French names were adopted into the English lexicon, leading to the eventual anglicization of Genevieve into forms like Gena. Historically, Genevieve is associated with Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who lived during the 5th century.

She is credited with saving the city from invasion and is celebrated for her piety and leadership during times of crisis. Her feast day is observed on January 3rd, and her legacy contributed to the name's enduring presence in various cultures.

The name was further popularized in literature and art, particularly during the Middle Ages, as stories of saints and their virtues were widely disseminated. Culturally, Gena and its variants have been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing strength and resilience.

The name has been used in various forms across different languages, including the Italian "Genoveffa" and the Spanish "Genoveva." These variations reflect the name's adaptability and the cultural significance attributed to it. The diminutive form "Gen" is also noted in some cultures, providing a more casual or affectionate alternative.

Overall, Gena carries a rich historical and cultural resonance, rooted in its etymological origins and the legacy of its notable figures.

Famous people named Gena

In this section, you will find notable people named Gena. 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 Gena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Gena 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.

Gena Rowlands is an actress best known for A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria, and The Notebook.

Gena Lee Nolin is an actress and model best known for Baywatch, Sheena, and The Last Resort.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gena, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GinaGenevieveGemmaGloriaGraceGeorgia

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gena. 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.

JennaLenaMinaTinaRenaNinaZena

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gena was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Gena has ranked as high as #752 nationally, which occurred in 1968, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Gena has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Gena 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 Gena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Gena.

Year Total Births Girl
2024 8 8
2021 5 5
2020 7 7
2019 6 6
2018 7 7
2017 7 7
2016 10 10
2015 14 14
2014 10 10
2013 16 16
2012 15 15
2011 16 16
2010 16 16
2009 21 21
2008 28 28
2007 30 30
2006 22 22
2005 30 30
2004 36 36
2003 43 43
2002 39 39
2001 51 51
2000 68 68
1999 47 47
1998 51 51
1997 68 68
1996 63 63
1995 60 60
1994 71 71
1993 98 98
1992 104 104
1991 96 96
1990 107 107
1989 126 126
1988 128 128
1987 152 152
1986 149 149
1985 173 173
1984 202 202
1983 171 171
1982 189 189
1981 212 212
1980 209 209
1979 267 267
1978 264 264
1977 297 297
1976 268 268
1975 361 361
1974 284 284
1973 313 313
1972 363 363
1971 396 396
1970 401 401
1969 389 389
1968 502 502
1967 486 486
1966 411 411
1965 325 325
1964 459 459
1963 458 458
1962 398 398
1961 272 272
1960 267 267
1959 197 197
1958 197 197
1957 166 166
1956 167 167
1955 158 158
1954 83 83
1953 73 73
1952 70 70
1951 60 60
1950 62 62
1949 53 53
1948 61 61
1947 53 53
1946 34 34
1945 30 30
1944 23 23
1943 36 36
1942 25 25
1941 19 19
1940 15 15
1939 18 18
1938 15 15
1937 9 9
1936 21 21
1935 16 16
1934 22 22
1933 28 28
1932 29 29
1931 19 19
1930 33 33
1929 26 26
1928 24 24
1927 32 32
1926 23 23
1925 30 30
1924 29 29
1923 36 36
1922 30 30
1921 33 33
1920 26 26
1919 32 32
1918 22 22
1917 25 25
1916 36 36
1915 32 32
1914 15 15
1913 19 19
1912 13 13
1911 17 17
1910 8 8
1909 6 6
1908 11 11
1907 11 11
1906 7 7
1905 15 15
1904 8 8
1903 14 14
1902 11 11
1901 13 13
1900 21 21
1899 11 11
1898 9 9
1897 9 9
1896 15 15
1895 16 16
1894 12 12
1893 14 14
1892 21 21
1891 21 21
1890 15 15
1889 12 12
1888 14 14
1887 14 14
1886 13 13
1885 11 11
1884 10 10
1883 5 5
1882 12 12
1880 11 11

Top States for Gena (2008)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 6
100%