Geneva
Geneva: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /d͡ʒəˈniːvə/
Meaning and origin of Geneva
Root meaning: “knee”
- A female given name transferred from the place name or confused with Genevieve or Ginevra.
Etymology
Probably via a Proto-Celtic *genwā from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénw-eh₂ (“knee”), a derivative of *ǵónu in the sense of a bending river or estuary, possibly akin to Genoa.
How popular is Geneva?
Since 1880, 88,758 girls and 309 boys in the U.S. have been named Geneva (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #106 in 1920. Its highest rank for boys was #2019 in 1926. In 2025, 125 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Geneva
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Geneva
Names that peaked around the same time as Geneva and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Geneva FAQ
What does the name Geneva mean?
Geneva traces back to a root meaning "knee". A female given name transferred from the place name or confused with Genevieve or Ginevra. Probably via a Proto-Celtic *genwā from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénw-eh₂ (“knee”), a derivative of *ǵónu in the sense of a bending river or estuary, possibly akin to Genoa.
How popular is the name Geneva?
Since 1880, 88,758 girls and 309 boys in the U.S. have been named Geneva (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #106 in 1920. Its highest rank for boys was #2019 in 1926. In 2025, 125 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Geneva a boy or girl name?
Geneva is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 88,758 girls and 309 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.