Eugene
Eugene: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈjuː.d͡ʒin/ · /juˈd͡ʒin/
Meaning and origin of Eugene
- A male given name from Ancient Greek.
Etymology
Borrowed from French Eugène, from Latin Eugenius, from Ancient Greek Εὐγένιος (Eugénios, “well born”), from εὖ (eû, “good, well”) + -γενής (-genḗs, “born a certain way”). Parallel to eugenics. Doublet of Yevgeny, Eugenius, and Owen.
How popular is Eugene?
Since 1880, 2,632 girls and 380,708 boys in the U.S. have been named Eugene (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #763 in 1930. Its highest rank for boys was #20 in 1927. In 2025 it ranked #943 for boys, with 249 babies given the name.
Names similar to Eugene
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Greek boy names
Sibling name ideas for Eugene
Sister and brother names that share Eugene's Greek roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Eugene FAQ
What does the name Eugene mean?
A male given name from Ancient Greek. Borrowed from French Eugène, from Latin Eugenius, from Ancient Greek Εὐγένιος (Eugénios, “well born”), from εὖ (eû, “good, well”) + -γενής (-genḗs, “born a certain way”). Parallel to eugenics. Doublet of Yevgeny, Eugenius, and Owen.
What is the origin of the name Eugene?
Eugene is listed as a name of Greek origin.
How popular is the name Eugene?
Since 1880, 2,632 girls and 380,708 boys in the U.S. have been named Eugene (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #763 in 1930. Its highest rank for boys was #20 in 1927. In 2025 it ranked #943 for boys, with 249 babies given the name.
Is Eugene a boy or girl name?
Eugene is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,632 girls and 380,708 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.