This post was originally published on January 14, 2009. It was substantially revised and re-posted on July 15, 2014.
Looking for a French name less popular than Madeleine, not as celebutante as Paris?
Thanks to Nessa for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Genevieve.
Not only is Genevieve authentically French, she occupies a special place in history.
Back in the fifth century, Attila the Hun prepared to march on Paris. Residents were packing up their worldly goods to flee when Genevieve suggested another course of action: pray, fast, and ask for God’s protection.
Believe it or not, Attila directed his troops elsewhere, and the city was spared. Little wonder she’s been the patron saint of Paris for centuries.
A later medieval legend gives us a second admirable Genevieve. This time she’s the wife of a nobleman, wrongly accused of infidelity. In the story, Genevieve flees with her son and, after many years in hiding, her husband discovers the truth and restores her good name. Historians suggest that her tale is based on a real life wife who was not so fortunate – her husband learned of her innocence after she’d met her maker. The legend inspired a nineteenth century operetta by Jacques Offenbach, but is not well known today.
The medieval Genevieve is also sometimes referred to as Genovefa, which is probably closer to the name’s original form. But her origins are murky, with some citing Celtic roots and others arguing a Germanic derivation.
There’s also:
- Ginevra, from the Harry Potter franchise and the lives of Leonardo Da Vinci and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Guinevere, a totally unrelated name straight out of Arthurian romance, but with a similar sound.
- A Swiss city, but also close in sound to Genevieve.
Speaking of sound, she’s very different in French: zhan vee EHV, instead of the English jenna VEEV.
Genevieve reached as high as #76 in 1916. She slowly fell out of favor, as other French feminine names took her place. In France, she peaked a few decades later.
In the 1950s, Genevieve was a successful movie musical about a road race. But Genevieve wasn’t the driver – she was the stylish 1904 Darracq race car.
The trend reverses in the 1960s. Why?
- She piggy-backed on the rise of fellow Jen name Jennifer.
- In the wildly popular musical Camelot, Guinevere appeals to Saint Genevieve in song. The musical debuted in 1960, was adapted for the big screen in 1967, and is frequently revived and produced by regional theaters.
As Jennifer stumbled and Camelot faded, Genevieve stumbled. But the twenty-first century has been kind to this name. Credit TLC’s Trading Spaces designer Genevieve Gorder, as well as a general interest in French names for girls.
As of 2013, Genevieve ranks #218 – not quite as popular as her previous high, but with the potential to continue her climb.
And why not? Genevieve is feminine and frilly, but she also has a definite strength to her. Nicknames range fro Genie to Vivi to Evie to Gigi to Gen – something to suit any child. It’s a name that manages to be neither too elaborate or too tailored – the middle road between Arabella and Esther. If you’re looking for a mainstream name that balances sophistication and wearability, Genevieve could be the one.
What do you think of Genevieve? Do you think she’ll return to the US Top 100 any time soon?
Baby Name of the Day: Boheme
Genevieve gets my vote. To me, she is a medieval maiden, with an air of romance and enchantment. This is perhaps in part due to the similarity with Guinevere from the Arthur legend. Some people consider them different forms of the same name. The Welsh variant, Gwenhwyfar, is also very lovely. She sounds like an Elven princess. These names speak of innocence, beauty and nobility.
I do like Genevieve; as Kate & Shannon expressed, she’s feminine but not ‘fluffy’ and I think she’d age well. I don’t really like the English pronunciation of the name – I mean, I don’t hate it, but I prefer the French, so when she features in my combos, Genevieve is usually the first mn. She’s actually an old family name for me too, being my great-great grandmoter, grand-mother and cousins’ name!
I like the fact that Genevieve is feminine ‘but not fluffy’ as Shannon put it and I also like the fact that I’ve never met one, but at the same time she doesn’t raise an eyebrow. But something about Genevieve just isn’t for me, she leaves me blank. I neither like nor dislike her one thing that does put me off and that Paige has touched upon already is the nickname Gen/Genna/Genny – I couldn’t deal with that I’m afraid!
I really like Genevieve and it’s non-variant, Ginevra. They just seem so exotic and even a little romantic. However, I’m not the biggest fan of the Gen nns… the only Genevieve I’ve ever heard of goes by Genna, which is not a fave. name.
However, it would definitely be a viable candidate for the middle, where I often stick names which don’t have any nns I like!
Genevieve is very pretty and nice, but seems to be the darling of name boards anymore. I’m feeling a bit sick of it, but that doesn’t reflect the actual amount of Genevieves at all.
I would like to see more baby Genevieves, though!
I really like Genevieve but she’s not for me. The family Genevive ended in sad manner and it brings back bad memories for the extended family. I broached the subject when I was pregnant with Josephine. I think she’s got loads of style, a lot of sass and energy and is such an all around winner in style, I wish I could use her myself, but have to hope others will be as enchanted with Genevieve as I am, and use her!
It’s one of my favorites and I like the way it’s said in both English and French. It’s feminine but not fluffy, not common (at least not yet) and it’s got a long history. And even sounds well with my last name. I’d just use it with no nn. Ever see the French movie (all sung) Umbrellas of Cherbourg? There is a Genevieve in that. I know of one young Genevieve who was in my son’s school but she spelled it Jenavieve.
Would you pronounce it the French way, Jean-vee-ev, or is that too affected? Found a fun name website the other day that I’ve never seen before: https://www.pokemyname.com/
Would you pronounce it Gen-ah-veeve or Jean-vee-ev? I think it’s prettier the French way, but might be more trouble than it’s worth. I ran across a fun name website I’d never seen before the other day, have a look: http://www.pokemyname.com/
I like Genevieve and it’s great for others to use. It’s a little long and the soft g with the vs make it feel almost voluptuous, making it a little much for me, personally, to use. (I also quite like Ginevra, which you mentioned, and that maintains some of the sumptuousness, without being overly so for me.) I’ve never met a Genevieve and that is appealing – it’s familiar and unique at the same time. (I do know a Ginevra, but it’s still uncommon.) I would just hope that if I got to meet a little Genevieve, that the parents don’t go for the Jen/Gen type nns – I’d hope for Eve or Neve or some other such nn that the name allows.