Holding steady, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Genoveva since 1885
Babies named Genoveva per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Genoveva's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 16 |
| 1890s | 67 |
| 1900s | 74 |
| 1910s | 185 |
| 1920s | 425 |
| 1930s | 301 |
| 1940s | 247 |
| 1950s | 236 |
| 1960s | 217 |
| 1970s | 220 |
| 1980s | 175 |
| 1990s | 140 |
| 2000s | 111 |
| 2010s | 106 |
| 2020s | 57 |
Meaning & origin
Genoveva is a rare but enduring name with Germanic roots, first recorded in U.S. data in 1885. It reached its peak popularity in 1895, a time when many elaborate European names were in vogue. In 2025, the name ranks 11,932, with a 1-in-229,610 birth rate, showing a stable trajectory over recent decades. While no top states have reported significant usage, the name has persisted through Spanish and Portuguese cultural influence, tied to the veneration of Saint Genevieve. Its low frequency today gives it a distinctive, vintage appeal.
Genoveva is a Latinized form of the Germanic name Genovefa, composed of the elements 'kuni' (race, family) and 'wefa' (woman). It is also a variant of the name Genevieve, with which it shares a complex history. The name became popular in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries through the cult of Saint Genevieve (Genoveva in Spanish), the patron saint of Paris. In Germanic tradition, it is associated with the medieval legend of Genoveva of Brabant.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Geno, Veva, Vevi
Variants: Genevieve, Genovefa, Genoveffa
Sibling names for Genoveva
Names that share Genoveva's style, for a brother or sister.
