Gena is a unique and distinctive female given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "gene", which means "woman". The name has been used in various cultures throughout history, but it remains relatively uncommon compared to many other names.
The earliest known occurrence of the name Gena can be traced back to ancient Israelite culture, where it was likely given to girls as a symbol of their feminine strength and grace. In the Bible, there is a mention of a woman named Gene (a variant spelling of Gena) who was the mother of one of King David's warriors.
Throughout the centuries, the name Gena has been adopted by various cultures around the world. In Russia, for example, it is often used as a diminutive form of the name Yevgeniya, which means "well-born" or "good-bred". In some cases, it may also be used as a short form of other Hebrew names such as Genevieve or Geneva.
While the meaning and origin of Gena are well-documented, there is no widely accepted association between the name and any specific feast days or traits of character. Instead, the name's significance lies primarily in its biblical roots and its universal symbolism of femininity.
Based on the statistical data provided, the popularity of the name Gena in the United States has shown significant fluctuations over time.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of newborn girls named Gena ranged from a low of 6 births in some years to a high of 36 births in others. The peak popularity of the name during this period occurred between 1915 and 1927, with the highest number of births recorded being 36 in 1923.
However, starting from the 1940s, there was a steady increase in the popularity of the name Gena. In 1947, there were 53 births, and by 1950, this number had risen to 62. The name's popularity continued to grow throughout the 1950s and peaked in 1962 with a total of 397 births.
Nevertheless, from the mid-1960s onwards, the popularity of the name Gena began to decline gradually. By the end of the century, the number of newborn girls named Gena had decreased significantly, with only 21 births recorded in 1989 and 16 births in both 1990 and 1991.
In the 21st century, the name Gena has remained relatively uncommon. Between 2000 and 2021, the number of newborn girls named Gena ranged from a low of 5 births in 2021 to a high of 68 births in 2000.
In conclusion, while the name Gena was moderately popular in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, its popularity has since declined significantly. Today, it is considered quite rare among newborn girls in the country.