Declining since 2010, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Genavieve since 1984
Babies named Genavieve per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 24 |
| 1990s | 90 |
| 2000s | 360 |
| 2010s | 286 |
| 2020s | 88 |
Meaning & origin
Genavieve is a modern respelling of Genevieve that first appeared in U.S. records in 1984. Its popularity peaked in 2011, making it a distinctive choice compared to the more traditional form. As a variant, it retains the same uncertain etymology but offers a unique spelling. In 2025, the name is used about once per 267,878 births, reflecting its rarity. While top states are not recorded due to its low frequency, it has been steadily declining since around 2010. This spelling highlights a trend of creative respellings that add individuality without straying far from a classic base.
Genavieve is a modern English respelling of Genevieve, which itself derives from the medieval French name Genovefa. The original meaning is debated; it may come from a Celtic or Germanic element meaning 'woman of the race' or from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (later Guinevere). The spelling with an 'a' instead of 'e' emerged in the late 20th century as a distinctive variant, possibly influenced by the popularity of names like Jennifer and Gwendolyn.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gen, Vieve, Genny
Sibling names for Genavieve
Names that share Genavieve's style, for a brother or sister.
