Germaine
A surname transferred from the given name, a variant of Germain.
Every Germaine since 1895 — 10,274 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Germaine
Germaine is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #13,789 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1895, 10,274 American babies have been named Germaine — about 77% girls and 23% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1972, when 250 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
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 Germaine stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Germaine 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 | 6 | #13,789 | 7 | #10,028 |
| 2024 | — | — | 6 | #11,388 |
| 2023 | 5 | #16,001 | 10 | #7,901 |
| 2022 | 5 | #16,155 | 5 | #12,994 |
| 2021 | — | — | 8 | #9,111 |
| 2020 | — | — | 6 | #11,064 |
| 2019 | — | — | 11 | #7,323 |
| 2018 | — | — | 5 | #12,813 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16,720 | 17 | #5,361 |
| 2016 | — | — | 6 | #11,186 |
| 2015 | — | — | 14 | #6,094 |
| 2014 | — | — | 14 | #6,098 |
| 2013 | — | — | 11 | #7,198 |
| 2012 | 6 | #15,615 | 25 | #4,050 |
| 2011 | 7 | #13,849 | 23 | #4,266 |
| 2010 | — | — | 29 | #3,656 |
| 2009 | — | — | 26 | #3,954 |
| 2008 | — | — | 23 | #4,307 |
| 2007 | — | — | 26 | #3,930 |
| 2006 | 5 | #18,098 | 21 | #4,409 |
| 2005 | — | — | 25 | #3,753 |
| 2004 | 5 | #17,002 | 31 | #3,179 |
| 2003 | 6 | #14,470 | 24 | #3,659 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,191 | 37 | #2,612 |
| 2001 | 12 | #8,377 | 23 | #3,660 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10,172 | 29 | #3,017 |
| 1995 | 12 | #7,198 | 35 | #2,267 |
| 1990 | 22 | #4,422 | 44 | #1,789 |
| 1985 | 21 | #3,898 | 49 | #1,396 |
| 1980 | 31 | #2,891 | 93 | #925 |
| 1975 | 46 | #1,940 | 97 | #845 |
| 1970 | 71 | #1,448 | 29 | #1,591 |
| 1965 | 80 | #1,201 | — | — |
| 1960 | 116 | #999 | — | — |
| 1955 | 74 | #1,159 | — | — |
| 1950 | 75 | #1,065 | — | — |
| 1945 | 73 | #883 | — | — |
| 1940 | 84 | #765 | — | — |
| 1935 | 141 | #541 | — | — |
| 1930 | 147 | #560 | — | — |
| 1925 | 164 | #561 | — | — |
| 1920 | 145 | #597 | — | — |
| 1915 | 137 | #546 | — | — |
| 1910 | 45 | #632 | — | — |
| 1905 | 20 | #833 | — | — |
| 1900 | 13 | #1,074 | — | — |
| 1895 | 6 | #1,489 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Germaine
- Germaine de Staël Writer · 1766–1817
- Germaine of Foix Politician · 1488–1536
- Germaine Dulac Film director · 1882–1942
- Germaine Greer Writer · b. 1939
- Germaine Tillion Social activist · 1907–2008
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Germaine mean?
A surname transferred from the given name, a variant of Germain.
How popular is the name Germaine in 2025?
Germaine ranked #13,789 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Germaine?
10,274 babies have been named Germaine in the United States since 1895, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Germaine most popular?
Germaine peaked in 1972, when 250 newborns received the name.
Is Germaine a boy or girl name?
Germaine is used for both: about 77% of babies named Germaine have been girls and 23% boys.
Is the name Germaine rising or falling?
Germaine is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Germaine?
Well-known people named Germaine include Germaine de Staël (writer), Germaine of Foix (politician), Germaine Dulac (film director).