"well-born, noble (from Eugenia)"
Origin: Greek
Language: Ancient Greek
Gena
Pronunciation: [ j-EHN-uh ]
Gena is a girl name of Greek origin meaning "well-born, noble (from Eugenia)." Ranked #17,315 in the US, popular nicknames include Gen and Genie.
Vintage Hollywood glamour in four letters
American
English
Italian
Vintage
Simple
Feminine
Hollywood
Classic
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"God is gracious (from Jean/Jane lineage)"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
"queen (from Regina)"
Origin: Latin
Language: Latin
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The Story of Gena
Gena is a variant spelling of Gina, which itself functions as both an independent name and a short form of several names. As a short form of Georgina or Regina, it derives from Greek 'georgos' (farmer) or Latin 'regina' (queen). It may also be a form of Eugenia from Greek 'eugenios' meaning 'well-born' or 'noble.' As a variant of Jean/Jane (from Hebrew John), it carries the meaning 'God is gracious.' The spelling with a 'G' rather than a 'J' gives it a softer, more Mediterranean feel.
Gena and Gina peaked in the 1950s-1960s, riding the wave of Italian-American cultural influence and the popularity of actress Gina Lollobrigida. The name evokes a particular mid-century Hollywood glamour.
Gina became fashionable in postwar America partly through Italian cinema's influence and the visibility of Italian-American culture. Names ending in '-ina' and their shortened forms carried an exotic, glamorous quality in that era.
Historical Record
Gena first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 11,396 babies have been named Gena in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Gena is past its peak , currently ranked #17,315 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Gina Lollobrigida, dubbed 'The Most Beautiful Woman in the World' in the 1950s, helped make this name synonymous with Italian glamour
- The name appeared in the top 200 US girls' names from the 1950s through the 1980s before gradually declining
Gena in Other Languages
Greek
Τζίνα
French
Gina
German
Gina
Italian
Gina
Spanish
Gina
Popularity Over Time
#17,315
Current Rank
Peaked 1968
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Gena
G
Gena Lee Nolin
Actor
1971
American actress and model known for her role on Baywatch
G
Gena Rowlands
Actor
1930
American actress renowned for her collaborations with director John Cassavetes, considered one of the greatest film actr...
American actress renowned for her collaborations with director John Cassavetes, considered one of the greatest film actresses of her generation
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #17,315
- Total SSA Count
- 8
- Cultural Origins
- American English Italian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Gen
Genie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gena
What does the name Gena mean?
"well-born, noble (from Eugenia)" (from Greek). "God is gracious (from Jean/Jane lineage)" (from Hebrew). "queen (from Regina)" (from Latin). Gena is a variant spelling of Gina, which itself functions as both an independent name and a short form of several names. As a short form of Georgina or Regina, it derives from Greek 'georgos' (farmer) or Latin 'regina' (queen). It may also be a form of Eugenia from Greek 'eugenios' meaning 'well-born' or 'noble.' As a variant of Jean/Jane (from Hebrew John), it carries the meaning 'God is gracious.' The spelling with a 'G' rather than a 'J' gives it a softer, more Mediterranean feel.
What is the origin of the name Gena?
Gena has Greek, Hebrew, Latin, American, English, and Italian origins. In Greek, it means "well-born, noble (from Eugenia)". In Hebrew, it means "God is gracious (from Jean/Jane lineage)". In Latin, it means "queen (from Regina)".
Is Gena a boy or girl name?
Gena is primarily used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Gena?
Gena is pronounced j-EHN-uh.
How popular is the name Gena?
Gena is currently ranked #17315 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Gena?
Common nicknames for Gena include Gen and Genie.
What are good middle names for Gena?
Popular middle name pairings include Gena Marie, Gena Lynn, Gena Lee, Gena Rose, and Gena Louise.
What are good sibling names for Gena?
Names that pair well with Gena as siblings include Dena, Rena, Lena, and Tina.
How many syllables does Gena have?
Gena has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Gena a common or rare name?
Gena is an uncommon name, ranked #17315 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Gena?
About the Name Gena
Gena is a girl name with American, English, and Italian origins . The name means "well-born, noble (from Eugenia)" in Greek .
Gena is currently ranked #17,315 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Gena has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-EHN-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Gena include Gen and Genie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Gena include Genesis, Genevieve, Geneva, Gentry, Genevie . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis