Gene
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Eugene, also used as a formal male given name.
Every Gene since 1880 — 133,874 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gene
Gene is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,238 in 2025 with 63 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 133,874 American babies have been named Gene — about 95% boys and 5% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1928, when 3,311 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
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 Gene stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gene year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 63 | #2,238 |
| 2024 | 5 | #16,107 | 83 | #1,908 |
| 2023 | — | — | 76 | #2,007 |
| 2022 | — | — | 74 | #2,046 |
| 2021 | — | — | 81 | #1,892 |
| 2020 | — | — | 96 | #1,660 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14,389 | 80 | #1,874 |
| 2018 | 7 | #12,933 | 64 | #2,177 |
| 2017 | — | — | 88 | #1,752 |
| 2016 | — | — | 79 | #1,882 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12,221 | 67 | #2,093 |
| 2014 | — | — | 53 | #2,410 |
| 2013 | — | — | 67 | #2,029 |
| 2012 | — | — | 71 | #1,994 |
| 2011 | 5 | #17,690 | 61 | #2,156 |
| 2010 | — | — | 65 | #2,074 |
| 2009 | — | — | 81 | #1,832 |
| 2008 | — | — | 79 | #1,846 |
| 2007 | — | — | 85 | #1,749 |
| 2006 | — | — | 95 | #1,554 |
| 2005 | 6 | #15,131 | 93 | #1,529 |
| 2004 | 5 | #16,991 | 109 | #1,345 |
| 2003 | 5 | #16,607 | 106 | #1,311 |
| 2002 | — | — | 99 | #1,336 |
| 2001 | 5 | #16,184 | 129 | #1,103 |
| 2000 | — | — | 123 | #1,132 |
| 1995 | 9 | #9,015 | 174 | #811 |
| 1990 | 10 | #8,078 | 267 | #617 |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,638 | 344 | #464 |
| 1980 | 12 | #5,638 | 451 | #380 |
| 1975 | 17 | #3,824 | 556 | #322 |
| 1970 | 26 | #2,728 | 934 | #250 |
| 1965 | 21 | #2,696 | 1,307 | #193 |
| 1960 | 34 | #1,956 | 1,796 | #174 |
| 1955 | 59 | #1,313 | 1,892 | #152 |
| 1950 | 79 | #1,027 | 2,250 | #122 |
| 1945 | 106 | #722 | 2,373 | #100 |
| 1940 | 59 | #938 | 3,060 | #70 |
| 1935 | 69 | #825 | 2,937 | #66 |
| 1930 | 168 | #521 | 2,787 | #70 |
| 1925 | 374 | #352 | 1,579 | #112 |
| 1920 | 204 | #477 | 810 | #173 |
| 1915 | 140 | #533 | 493 | #212 |
| 1910 | 32 | #758 | 91 | #253 |
| 1905 | 24 | #749 | 44 | #303 |
| 1900 | 26 | #710 | 48 | #302 |
| 1895 | 14 | #875 | 28 | #350 |
| 1890 | 11 | #845 | 17 | #445 |
| 1885 | 5 | #1,104 | 20 | #404 |
| 1880 | — | — | 7 | #771 |
Famous people named Gene
- Gene Cernan Astronaut · 1934–2017
- Gene Hackman Actor · b. 1930
- Gene Kelly Actor · 1912–1996
- Gene Wilder Actor · 1933–2016
- Gene Deitch Film director · 1924–2020
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gene mean?
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Eugene, also used as a formal male given name.
How popular is the name Gene in 2025?
Gene ranked #2,238 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 63 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Gene?
133,874 babies have been named Gene in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gene most popular?
Gene peaked in 1928, when 3,311 newborns received the name.
Is Gene a boy or girl name?
Gene is used for both: about 5% of babies named Gene have been girls and 95% boys.
Is the name Gene rising or falling?
Gene is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gene?
Well-known people named Gene include Gene Cernan (astronaut), Gene Hackman (actor), Gene Kelly (actor).