Genevieve

At a Glance

Meaning

Woman of the tribe/kin

Origin

French

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

JEN-eh-veevListen

Genevieve is a French name meaning "woman of the tribe/kin," pronounced JEN-eh-veev (IPA /ˈdʒɛnəviːv/). You might have heard it translated as "white wave," but that's not quite right — the name's actual roots, whether traced to Germanic "kin/tribe woman" or Celtic "woman of the family/clan," point instead to a sense of "woman of the people."

Meaning & Origin of Genevieve

Meaning: Woman of the tribe/kin.

Origin: French.

A common claim: Genevieve is popularly translated as 'white wave.' Actually: Genevieve isn't actually 'white wave' — both scholarly roots proposed (Germanic 'kin/tribe woman' or Celtic 'woman of the family/clan') point to a 'woman of the people' sense instead.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Genevieve

Popularity of Genevieve

Genevieve hit its highest popularity back in 1914, ranking #76 with 2,254 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it stood at #165 with 1,835 babies, a name the SSA has tracked steadily from 1880 through 2024.

Names Like Genevieve

These names share Genevieve’s style, era or origin.

• Cecile
• Adele
• Amy
• Annette
• Arlette
• Bernadette

FAQ

What does the name Genevieve mean?

Woman of the tribe/kin. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Genevieve?

Genevieve is pronounced JEN-eh-veev (IPA: /ˈdʒɛnəviːv/).

Is Genevieve a popular name right now?

Genevieve peaked at #76 in 1914 and is ranked #165 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Genevieve Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Genevieve, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.