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Gene Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Gene

Pronunciation: JEEN

Meaning Well-born Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#2,238
TREND
333
Peak Years
1937, 1938, 1942
Lowest Years
1880, 1883, 1884
Energy Archetype
Reflective & Analytical

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Gene in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Gene

  • More than 133 thousand babies named Gene: U.S. records list 133,872 babies given the name Gene from 1880 through 2025. Even 6,997 girls received the name Gene - about 1 girl for every 18 boys.

What Does the Name Gene Mean?

Gene is an English short form of Eugene, and less often of the feminine Eugenia. Eugene comes from the Greek Eugenios, which is based on eugenēs, meaning 'well-born' or 'of good stock.' The word is made of eu, 'well' or 'good,' and genos, 'birth, race, stock, family.' The literal sense is 'well-born'; the common gloss 'noble' is a later extension of that idea, not a separate root. Gene has no independent etymology apart from the name it shortens.

Gene Name History & Origins

Eugene reached English through Latin Eugenius, the Latin form of Greek Eugenios. The Greek and Latin forms were used by early Christian saints and by several popes, which helped keep the name in use in Europe. English uses the form Eugene; Gene arose as a spoken shortening of it, taking the stressed second syllable of Eugene and dropping the opening Eu-.

Gene is also used as a short form of Eugenia, the feminine form of the same Greek name. As an independent English given name, Gene became common in the 20th century, particularly in the United States. It is not related to the French-derived names Jean and Jeanne, although in English it sounds the same as Jean, and it is not derived from the modern scientific word gene.

How Popular is the Name Gene?

Gene recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1937. Gene entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1926.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Famous People Named Gene

Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder

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How the Name Gene Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Gene's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Gene's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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