Fun Facts About the Name Genesis
- A newer favorite: Genesis first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2008 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 18 consecutive years.
- More than 97 thousand babies named Genesis: U.S. records list 97,217 babies given the name Genesis from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,662 boys received the name Genesis - about 1 boy for every 26 girls.
What Does the Name Genesis Mean?
Genesis is taken from the Greek noun genesis, meaning "origin," "source," "birth," or "generation." The noun comes from the verb gignesthai, "to be born" or "to come into being," and is related to other English words built on the same Greek root, such as genetic and generate. The usual short sense of the name in English is "origin" or "beginning."
The name is not a translation of the Hebrew title of the first book of the Bible, Bereshit ("in the beginning"). The Greek-speaking translators of the Septuagint gave that book the descriptive title Genesis because of its content - accounts of origins and births - and the personal name follows the Greek word, not the Hebrew one. The Spanish form is Génesis, with the same Greek source.
Genesis Name History & Origins
The Greek word genesis was an ordinary noun for "birth," "origin," or "generation" in classical Greek, used in philosophical and medical writing about how things come into being. When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek from the third century BCE onward (the Septuagint), the first book received the title Genesis. The Latin Vulgate kept the Greek title, and English Bibles inherited it, so the word became widely familiar in the Christian world as the name of the Bible's opening book.
Its use as a personal name is a later and largely modern development. In English, Genesis appears as a given name mainly from the twentieth century, often in religious families, and is used chiefly for girls, though it also occurs for boys. In Spanish-speaking countries, Génesis is a common girl's name. Unlike long-established biblical personal names such as Sarah or Michael, Genesis belongs to the group of names taken directly from a scriptural word or book title rather than from a person in the text.
How Popular is the Name Genesis?
Genesis recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2016. Genesis entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 2008.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #66 | 3,527 | 0.2194% |
| 2024 | #55 | 3,835 | 0.2377% |
| 2023 | #57 | 3,661 | 0.2284% |
| 2022 | #65 | 3,448 | 0.2104% |
| 2021 | #75 | 3,344 | 0.2039% |
| 2020 | #62 | 3,692 | 0.2285% |
| 2019 | #58 | 4,030 | 0.2402% |
| 2018 | #57 | 4,098 | 0.2410% |
| 2017 | #56 | 4,273 | 0.2476% |
| 2016 | #58 | 4,351 | 0.2456% |
| 2015 | #65 | 4,168 | 0.2335% |
| 2014 | #68 | 4,169 | 0.2334% |
| 2013 | #55 | 4,306 | 0.2454% |
| 2012 | #56 | 4,309 | 0.2447% |
| 2011 | #81 | 3,513 | 0.1997% |
| 2010 | #89 | 3,303 | 0.1858% |
| 2009 | #83 | 3,669 | 0.1997% |
| 2008 | #95 | 3,523 | 0.1863% |
| 2007 | #140 | 2,485 | 0.1293% |
| 2006 | #169 | 2,088 | 0.1098% |
| 2005 | #155 | 2,224 | 0.1204% |
| 2004 | #184 | 1,858 | 0.1012% |
| 2003 | #218 | 1,493 | 0.0817% |
| 2002 | #228 | 1,372 | 0.0764% |
| 2001 | #224 | 1,417 | 0.0787% |
| 2000 | #247 | 1,303 | 0.0718% |
| 1999 | #254 | 1,244 | 0.0701% |
| 1998 | #260 | 1,185 | 0.0671% |
| 1997 | #256 | 1,147 | 0.0659% |
| 1996 | #282 | 1,028 | 0.0586% |
| 1995 | #333 | 796 | 0.0453% |
| 1994 | #270 | 1,042 | 0.0584% |
| 1993 | #432 | 582 | 0.0322% |
| 1992 | #373 | 686 | 0.0372% |
| 1991 | #434 | 584 | 0.0311% |
| 1990 | #590 | 391 | 0.0206% |
| 1989 | #642 | 322 | 0.0175% |
| 1988 | #758 | 247 | 0.0139% |
| 1987 | #1,100 | 138 | 0.0079% |
| 1986 | #1,788 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1985 | #1,684 | 69 | 0.0040% |
| 1984 | #1,779 | 61 | 0.0036% |
| 1983 | #1,717 | 63 | 0.0038% |
| 1982 | #1,928 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 1981 | #2,035 | 51 | 0.0031% |
| 1980 | #2,050 | 51 | 0.0031% |
| 1979 | #1,926 | 54 | 0.0034% |
| 1978 | #1,832 | 55 | 0.0036% |
| 1977 | #2,684 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1976 | #2,503 | 32 | 0.0022% |
| 1975 | #2,329 | 35 | 0.0024% |
| 1974 | #2,860 | 25 | 0.0017% |
| 1973 | #3,679 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #6,137 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #5,246 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #4,852 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #6,163 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #7,105 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,305 | 149 | 0.0087% |
| 2024 | #1,149 | 182 | 0.0106% |
| 2023 | #1,063 | 205 | 0.0120% |
| 2022 | #1,053 | 209 | 0.0120% |
| 2021 | #970 | 230 | 0.0132% |
| 2020 | #827 | 278 | 0.0161% |
| 2019 | #901 | 244 | 0.0136% |
| 2018 | #981 | 211 | 0.0116% |
| 2017 | #1,577 | 103 | 0.0056% |
| 2016 | #1,621 | 99 | 0.0052% |
| 2015 | #1,683 | 93 | 0.0049% |
| 2014 | #2,126 | 65 | 0.0034% |
| 2013 | #1,800 | 80 | 0.0042% |
| 2012 | #1,899 | 76 | 0.0040% |
| 2011 | #1,760 | 83 | 0.0044% |
| 2010 | #2,024 | 68 | 0.0035% |
| 2009 | #1,814 | 82 | 0.0041% |
| 2008 | #1,880 | 77 | 0.0038% |
| 2007 | #2,196 | 61 | 0.0029% |
| 2006 | #1,926 | 70 | 0.0034% |
| 2005 | #1,896 | 67 | 0.0034% |
| 2004 | #2,112 | 56 | 0.0028% |
| 2003 | #1,874 | 63 | 0.0032% |
| 2002 | #1,855 | 61 | 0.0031% |
| 2001 | #2,067 | 51 | 0.0026% |
| 2000 | #2,100 | 48 | 0.0024% |
| 1999 | #1,714 | 61 | 0.0032% |
| 1998 | #2,211 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 1997 | #2,414 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1996 | #2,122 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1995 | #1,930 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1994 | #1,990 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1993 | #1,803 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1992 | #1,935 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1991 | #1,963 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1990 | #3,218 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1989 | #1,575 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 1988 | #3,004 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #3,600 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #2,628 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1985 | #3,891 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #3,342 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #4,265 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #3,364 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #3,690 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #4,652 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #3,427 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #3,279 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #3,695 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #4,149 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #4,488 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #3,408 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #3,292 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #4,423 | 6 | 0.0003% |
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.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Genesis
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How the Name Genesis 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.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Genesis's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Genesis's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.