The name Ginette is a French feminine given name that originated from the French name Guenièvre or Guinevere. The name Guenièvre is believed to have derived from the Breton word "gwen" meaning "white," and "ei" meaning "girl." Therefore, Ginette can be interpreted as meaning "white girl."
The name Guenièvre was popularized by the medieval legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. In this legend, Guenièvre was the beautiful queen of King Arthur who was famously betrayed by her husband's best friend, Lancelot. The name Ginette, being a variant of Guenièvre, also carries some of this historical significance.
In France, the name Ginette became popular in the early 20th century and has since remained a common choice for parents naming their daughters. Today, it is still used as a given name but has become less popular than it once was.
Despite its historical associations with betrayal and tragedy, the name Ginette itself does not carry any negative connotations. Instead, it is often associated with elegance, grace, and beauty, perhaps due to its connection to the legendary Queen Guenièvre. Ultimately, the name Ginette is a unique and charming option for parents looking for a distinctive yet traditional French name for their daughter.
The name Ginette has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1940 and 2019, there were a total of 881 babies named Ginette at birth.
The peak years for the name Ginette appear to be in the late 1940s to early 1950s, with the highest number of births occurring in 1959, with 34 newborn girls given this name. This was followed by a decline in popularity, reaching its lowest point in recent years, with only 6 babies named Ginette in both 2018 and 2019.
It's interesting to note that the name Ginette experienced a resurgence in the late 1970s to early 1980s, with numbers ranging from 14 to 25 births per year during this period. However, since then, its popularity has continued to decline.
Despite the fluctuations over time, it's clear that the name Ginette has remained a choice for some parents in the United States over several decades. It will be intriguing to see if there is another resurgence in popularity for this name in future years.