Genevieve
Genevieve is a girls' name of French origin meaning “woman of the people, white wave.” It ranked #148 in the United States in 2025. The patron saint of Paris, Saint Geneviève is said to have saved the city from Attila the Hun through her prayers.
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how do you pronounce Genevieve?
ZHEN-uh-vyev
where does the name Genevieve come from?
Its origin is disputed between Germanic and Celtic roots. A Germanic reading breaks the early form Kenowefa into kin, race or tribe, and wefa, woman: woman of the people. A Celtic reading traces it to a root meaning family or clan.
The name carries deep Parisian roots and a sense of quiet strength. It remains consistently popular in both France and English-speaking countries.
how popular is this name?
Genevieve has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #76 in 1914, and ranked #148 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #148 |
| 2024 | #165 |
| 2023 | #165 |
| 2022 | #165 |
| 2021 | #154 |
| 2020 | #169 |
| 2019 | #168 |
| 2018 | #171 |
| 2017 | #183 |
| 2016 | #188 |
| 2010 | #278 |
| 2000 | #510 |
| 1990 | #485 |
| 1980 | #424 |
| 1970 | #577 |
| 1960 | #600 |
| 1950 | #406 |
| 1940 | #254 |
| 1930 | #143 |
| 1920 | #86 |
| 1914 | #76 |
| 1910 | #98 |
| 1900 | #142 |
| 1890 | #163 |
| 1880 | #201 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Genevieve fell outside the top 1,000.
what are the nicknames and variants of Genevieve?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Genevieve?
- Saint Geneviève (patron saint of Paris)
- Geneviève Bujold (Canadian-French actress)
what names are similar to Genevieve?
what names go well with Genevieve?
Sibling names that share Genevieve's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Genevieve
What does the name Genevieve mean?
Genevieve means “woman of the people, white wave”.
What is the origin of the name Genevieve?
Genevieve comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Geneviève, Genovefa and Genoveva.
How popular is the name Genevieve?
Genevieve ranked #148 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1914, at #76, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Genevieve a boy or girl name?
Genevieve is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Genevieve?
Genevieve is pronounced ZHEN-uh-vyev, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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