A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Genie since 1880
Babies named Genie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1982, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Genie's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 108 | 6 |
| 1890s | 117 | 10 |
| 1900s | 85 | 35 |
| 1910s | 131 | 30 |
| 1920s | 137 | 58 |
| 1930s | 144 | 18 |
| 1940s | 381 | 10 |
| 1950s | 376 | 6 |
| 1960s | 337 | 0 |
| 1970s | 269 | 0 |
| 1980s | 378 | 0 |
| 1990s | 137 | 0 |
| 2000s | 69 | 0 |
| 2010s | 41 | 0 |
| 2020s | 27 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Genie first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880, the earliest year data is available, and reached its peak rank of 13,208 in 1883, its highest usage ever. After a long period of decline, it has been rising in popularity since 2010, with a revival in the 1880s decade. Today, it remains a rare choice, given to just 1 in 267,878 girls in 2025, but its vintage charm and association with the spirited character from Disney's Aladdin might appeal to parents drawn to short, lively names. Unlike the magical figure, the name's etymology is grounded in the saintly tradition of Genevieve, patron of Paris.
Genie originated as a diminutive of Genevieve, which itself is of uncertain origin, possibly from the Germanic *Kenowefa or the Gaulish Genovefa, meaning 'woman of the race' or 'white wave.' The name Genevieve was popularized in England after the Norman Conquest, and its nickname Genie gained independent use in the 19th century. It also coincides with the word genie, from Arabic jinn, but this is a separate etymology.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gen, Gigi
Sibling names for Genie
Names that share Genie's style, for a brother or sister.
