Gena
A female given name, a rare variant of Gina or short form of Genevieve.
Every Gena since 1880 — 12,824 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gena
Gena is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 12,824 American babies have been named Gena. Its peak came in 1968, when 502 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gena stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gena year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,447 |
| 2023 | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — |
| 2021 | 5 | #16,076 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12,599 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14,388 |
| 2018 | 7 | #12,932 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13,190 |
| 2016 | 10 | #10,351 |
| 2015 | 14 | #8,146 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10,416 |
| 2013 | 16 | #7,514 |
| 2012 | 15 | #7,965 |
| 2011 | 16 | #7,552 |
| 2010 | 16 | #7,644 |
| 2009 | 21 | #6,391 |
| 2008 | 28 | #5,188 |
| 2007 | 30 | #4,855 |
| 2006 | 22 | #5,992 |
| 2005 | 30 | #4,517 |
| 2004 | 36 | #3,929 |
| 2003 | 43 | #3,376 |
| 2002 | 39 | #3,480 |
| 2001 | 51 | #2,855 |
| 2000 | 68 | #2,291 |
| 1995 | 60 | #2,226 |
| 1990 | 107 | #1,458 |
| 1985 | 173 | #913 |
| 1980 | 209 | #785 |
| 1975 | 361 | #496 |
| 1970 | 401 | #496 |
| 1965 | 325 | #530 |
| 1960 | 267 | #615 |
| 1955 | 158 | #757 |
| 1950 | 62 | #1,175 |
| 1945 | 30 | #1,495 |
| 1940 | 15 | #2,141 |
| 1935 | 16 | #2,037 |
| 1930 | 33 | #1,329 |
| 1925 | 30 | #1,518 |
| 1920 | 26 | #1,635 |
| 1915 | 32 | #1,237 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,834 |
| 1905 | 15 | #983 |
| 1900 | 21 | #816 |
| 1895 | 16 | #798 |
| 1890 | 15 | #705 |
| 1885 | 11 | #670 |
| 1880 | 11 | #529 |
Famous people named Gena
- Gena Rowlands Actor · b. 1930
- Gena Lee Nolin Actor · b. 1971
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gena mean?
A female given name, a rare variant of Gina or short form of Genevieve.
How popular is the name Gena in 2025?
Gena did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Gena?
12,824 babies have been named Gena in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gena most popular?
Gena peaked in 1968, when 502 newborns received the name.
Is Gena a boy or girl name?
Gena is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Gena rising or falling?
Gena is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gena?
Well-known people named Gena include Gena Rowlands (actor), Gena Lee Nolin (actor).