Origin, Meaning, And History Of Geneva
Geneva is a girl’s name of Germanic origin. It means ‘juniper tree.’ It is also possibly a diminutive of Genevieve. The name Genevieve is derived from the Germanic name Genovefa, which contains the elements kunja, meaning ‘clan’ or ‘family,’ and wībą, meaning ‘wife’ or ‘woman.’
Alternatively, it could be of Gaulish origin, containing the Celtic element genos meaning ‘kin’ or ‘family.’ In Proto-Celtic, the name could mean ‘white spirit.’ It originated from the name Gwenhwyfar, which was also the name of King Arthur’s wife. However, one of the most popular derivations could be from Geneva, the city in Switzerland.
Geneva has been part of the English-speaking world since the 19th century. However, it is rarely used. In the US, the name was most popular in the 1920s, and even then, only 0.002% of babies were given this name. It is now not surprising that most of the people with the name Geneva in the US are around 84 years of age.
One of the most common diminutives of the name is Neva. You can use several nicknames, such as Gen, Genna, Neva, Nev, and Eve for Geneva.
Though Geneva is rare, Genevieve is more commonly used. In fact, in England and Wales, Genevieve has almost constantly been in the top 500 names for girls in the last few years. In France, Geneviève is used as a unisex name and ranks high as a girl’s name. In Canada, too, Genevieve was among the top 100 names for girls in the 1980s and 1990s.
Geneva, though a rare name, has made a splash in the entertainment industry. Geneva Pine is one of the recurring characters in the legal and political drama TV seriesThe Good Wife.Moreover, Geneva Lee is one of the main characters in the TV sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.
Another appearance is in the fantasy drama filmThe Boy Who Could Fly.Geneva Goodman is the name of Milly’s neighbor. And finally, Geneva Porter is one of the protagonists in Catherine Woolley’s book seriesGinnie and Geneva.
Geneva
How To Pronounce Geneva?
Famous People With The Name Geneva
- NameProfession
- Geneva Doris MitchellAmerican actress, best known for her roles in “Three Stooges” and “Pop Goes the Easel”
- Geneva MercerAmerican artist, known for both her sculpting and painting works
- Geneva CruzFilipina singer and actress, famous for her songs “Anak Ng Pasig” and “Kailan”
- Geneva CarrAmerican TV and stage actress, known for her performance in the Broadway play “Hand to God”
Geneva On The Popularity Chart
According to the SSA graphs below, Geneva has seen some interesting activity. Let us take a look at them.
Popularity Over Time
The name was most popular in the early 1980s. Later, however, the usage of the name decreased. In 2021, 130 babies per million were named Geneva.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Geneva’s rank graph is relatively smooth compared to its popularity graph. In 1983, the name ranked its best at 666. It was at the 1,599th position in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Geneva
If you liked the gentle sound of Geneva and are looking for more options, here are some names that sound similar to Geneva. Take a look!
Popular Sibling Names For Geneva
Other Popular Names Beginning With G
Names With Similar Meaning As Geneva
If the meaning of the name caught your fancy but you are looking for other options, here is a list of names with a similar connotation.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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如何交流对方的名字吗er Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Geneva
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Geneva?
The name Geneva means juniper shrub, small tree with berry cones.
2. What is the origin of the name Geneva?
Geneva has a Germanic origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Geneva?
Geneva is pronounced as juh-nee-vuh.
