Gena: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Gena

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1968

502 babies

All-time total

12,824

#1,433 all-time among girls

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Gena popularity over time

12,824 babies have been named Gena since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	102	10	–	#529
1890s	143	14	+40%	#578
1900s	117	12	-18%	#816
1910s	219	22	+87%	#1,087
1920s	289	29	+32%	#1,310
1930s	210	21	-27%	#1,329
1940s	349	35	+66%	#1,147
1950s	1,233	123	+253%	#701
1960s	3,967	397	+222%	#420
1970s	3,214	321	-19%	#485
1980s	1,711	171	-47%	#770
1990s	765	77	-55%	#1,458
2000s	368	37	-52%	#2,291
2010s	117	12	-68%	#7,514
2020s (to 2025)	20	3	-72%	#11,447

The story of Gena

Gena is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 12,824 American babies have been named Gena. Its peak came in 1968, when 502 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Gena stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gena?

The median living Gena is about 54 years old; half are between 45 and 61. An estimated 11 thousand people named Gena are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Gena year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	8	#11,447
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	5	#16,076
2020	7	#12,599
2019	6	#14,388
2018	7	#12,932
2017	7	#13,190
2016	10	#10,351
2015	14	#8,146
2014	10	#10,416
2013	16	#7,514
2012	15	#7,965
2011	16	#7,552
2010	16	#7,644
2009	21	#6,391
2008	28	#5,188
2007	30	#4,855
2006	22	#5,992
2005	30	#4,517
2004	36	#3,929
2003	43	#3,376
2002	39	#3,480
2001	51	#2,855
2000	68	#2,291
1995	60	#2,226
1990	107	#1,458
1985	173	#913
1980	209	#785
1975	361	#496
1970	401	#496
1965	325	#530
1960	267	#615
1955	158	#757
1950	62	#1,175
1945	30	#1,495
1940	15	#2,141
1935	16	#2,037
1930	33	#1,329
1925	30	#1,518
1920	26	#1,635
1915	32	#1,237
1910	8	#1,834
1905	15	#983
1900	21	#816
1895	16	#798
1890	15	#705
1885	11	#670
1880	11	#529

Famous people named Gena

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Gena Rowlands American actress (1930–2024) Contemporary
2 Gena Lee Nolin American actress (born 1971) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Gena, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Gena?

The median living Gena is about 54 years old. Half of all living Genas are between 45 and 61 years old.

How many people named Gena are alive today?

An estimated 11 thousand people named Gena are alive in the United States, based on 12,824 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Gena mean?

A female given name, a rare variant of Gina or short form of Genevieve.

How popular is the name Gena in 2025?

Gena did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Gena?

12,824 babies have been named Gena in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gena most popular?

Gena peaked in 1968, when 502 newborns received the name.

Is Gena a boy or girl name?

Gena is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Gena rising or falling?

Gena is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Gena?

Well-known people named Gena include Gena Rowlands (actor), Gena Lee Nolin (actor).

Names like Gena

Names that sound and feel close to Gena: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Gena with similar names → More names starting with G →