Gene
Gene is a unisex given name. It is often a short form (hypocorism) of Eugene or Genevieve.
Meaning & Origin of Gene
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Gene is a unisex given name. It is often a short form (hypocorism) of Eugene or Genevieve.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Gene
As a girl name
Gene first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1882, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1925, when 374 Genes were born — ranking #352 that year. As of 2026, Gene ranks #15,243 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 7K Genes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Gene first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1937, when 3,165 Genes were born — ranking #61 that year. As of 2026, Gene ranks #2,040 for boys with 75 births, gradually falling (-6%). In total, more than 127K Genes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Gene
Phonetically similar names — useful when Gene is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gene
What does the name Gene mean?
How popular is Gene in 2026?
When was Gene most popular?
In which U.S. states is Gene most popular?
Is Gene a unisex name?
What names go well with Gene?
About the name Gene
Gene is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 127K births in the dataset. Gene's peak popularity came in 1937 when it ranked #61. Use the chart and map above to compare Gene's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1937 →
- Names of the 1930s →
- Names starting with "G" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.