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At a Glance: Name: Imogene – Meaning: uncertain; possibly from Gaelic 'inghean' (girl) via a misprint of 'Innogen' – Origin: uncertain (probably Gaelic, via a misprint of 'Innogen') – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: IM-oh-jeen
Imogene is pronounced IM-oh-jeen, and its roots are genuinely uncertain: the most likely trail leads back to a Gaelic word, 'inghean' (girl), arriving in English through a misprint of 'Innogen' in Shakespeare's Cymbeline. You may come across the claim that Imogene is Latin for 'maiden,' but that's not accurate — name scholars point to that printing error as the more probable source, not a Latin word. If you're drawn to a name with an origin story that's more mystery than certainty, Imogene fits.
Meaning & Origin of Imogene
Meaning: Uncertain; possibly from gaelic 'inghean' (girl) via a misprint of 'innogen'.
Origin: uncertain (probably Gaelic, via a misprint of 'Innogen').
A common claim: means 'maiden' (Latin) Actually: The 'Latin for maiden' claim is doubtful — most name scholars trace Imogen/Imogene to a probable misprint of 'Innogen' in Shakespeare's Cymbeline, a Gaelic-rooted name, not a Latin word.
How to Pronounce Imogene
Phonetic: IM-oh-jeen IPA: /ˈɪməˌdʒiːn/
Popularity of Imogene
Imogene hit its high point in 1927, ranking #157 with 1,494 babies given the name that year. Since then it's faded, landing at #2464 in 2024 with just 73 babies named Imogene.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Imogene Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Imogene, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Imogene mean?
Uncertain; possibly from gaelic ‘inghean’ (girl) via a misprint of ‘innogen’.
How do you pronounce Imogene?
Imogene is pronounced IM-oh-jeen (IPA: /ˈɪməˌdʒiːn/).
Is Imogene a popular name right now?
Imogene peaked at #157 in 1927 and is ranked #2464 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Imogene? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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