Jeneva

Meaning & origin

Jeneva is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1905. Its peak year was 1926, but it has since declined in use. In 2025, it ranked 6,546th with approximately 1 in 94,545 babies receiving the name. The trajectory has been stable in recent decades. The name likely originated as a variant spelling of Geneva or Jennifer, both of which have longer histories. Geneva was used as a given name in the 19th century, inspired by the Swiss city, while Jennifer became popular in the mid-20th century. Jeneva did not see enough births in 2025 to record a top state, and its usage remains scattered. Overall, Jeneva represents a creative spelling variant that has never achieved widespread popularity, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar-sounding name.

Jeneva is a modern English variant of Geneva, the name of a Swiss city, or a respelling of Jennifer. Jennifer itself is a Cornish form of Guinevere, derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, meaning 'white phantom' or 'white wave.' The name Jeneva emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century as a creative spelling, possibly influenced by the popularity of Geneva as a given name in the late 1800s.