Where does the name Gene come from?

Gene is a boy name of Ancient Greek origin.

Is Gene a boy or a girl name?

Gene is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 5% of children given the name Gene are girls and 95% are boys.

How popular is the name Gene in 2023?

Gene ranks #2007 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1928 with 3,311 babies.

How do you pronounce Gene?

Gene is pronounced JEEN (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Gene?

Gene is also written as Eugene, Genie.

A name from Ancient Greek · Boy

Gene

A short form of Eugene, from Greek Eugenios — eu ('well') + genos ('born'); 'well-born' or 'noble'. Independent in 20th-century American usage.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

126,731 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

76 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

GA short form of Eugene, from Greek Eugenios — eu ('well') + genos ('born'); 'well-born' or 'noble'. Independent in 20th-century American usage.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Gene".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Eugene Most common Genie

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Gene.

G
Gene Kelly (dancer and actor)
G
Gene Hackman (Oscar-winning actor)
G
Gene Wilder (actor)

Quick answers

People often ask about Gene.

What does the name Gene mean?: Gene means a short form of Eugene, from Greek Eugenios — eu ('well') + genos ('born'); 'well-born' or 'noble'. Independent in 20th-century American usage.
Where does the name Gene come from?: Gene is a boy name of Ancient Greek origin.
Is Gene a boy or a girl name?: Gene is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 5% of children given the name Gene are girls and 95% are boys.
How popular is the name Gene in 2023?: Gene ranks #2007 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1928 with 3,311 babies.
How do you pronounce Gene?: Gene is pronounced JEEN (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Gene?: Gene is also written as Eugene, Genie.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.