Gennaro is an Italian given name, derived from the Latin 'Gennaeus', which means 'knowing' or 'aware'. It is predominantly used as a male name and has been prominent in Southern Italy, particularly in Naples. The name Gennaro is often associated with Saint Gennaro, a bishop of Benevento who was martyred during the Roman Empire's persecution of Christians. This saint is widely venerated in Italy, which may have contributed to the popularity of the name Gennaro over time.
The name Gennaro experienced significant popularity and fluctuation in the early to mid-20th century, with peaks reaching as high as 40 births per year during World War I. However, its prevalence has steadily declined since then, with fewer than 25 births recorded annually from the 1960s onwards. Recent years show a slight resurgence, with 39 births in 2022 and 24 births in 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 2499 Gennaro births recorded since 1904.