Geneviève is a French female given name derived from the Latin word "genereum", which means "to be born". It has been associated with the Roman goddess Juno Genetrix, who was believed to be the protectress of women in childbirth. The name Geneviève also has ties to the ancient Germanic tribe of the Teutons, who worshipped a deity known as Tanfana, or "the mother".
The name Geneviève became popular among the Gauls after they were conquered by the Romans around 150 BC. During this time, many Gallic women adopted Roman names and customs, including the name Geneviève. In France, Saint Geneviève (also spelled Genoveva) was a patron saint who played a significant role in the country's history.
Saint Geneviève was born around 423 AD near Paris to a family of peasants. She became a nun at a young age but was eventually imprisoned by King Childeric I for refusing to marry his son, Merovech. After her release from prison, she devoted herself to charitable works and praying for the protection of Paris against invading Huns. Her prayers were answered when the Huns suddenly abandoned their siege of the city in 451 AD.
After Saint Geneviève's death in 502 AD, her reputation as a saint grew rapidly among the people of Paris. She became known as the patron saint of the city and was venerated for her courage, faith, and devotion to the poor. Many miracles were attributed to her intercession, and she remained an important figure in French Catholicism throughout the Middle Ages.
Today, Geneviève remains a popular name in France and other Francophone countries. It is often given to girls born around Christmas time, as Saint Geneviève's feast day is celebrated on January 3rd. The name has also gained popularity among English-speaking parents in recent years, particularly those interested in French culture or history.
In literature, the name Geneviève appears in works by several notable authors, including Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables", where it belongs to a character named Madame la Huchette. Other famous bearers of this name include Geneviève de Gaulle-Anthonioz, niece of Charles de Gaulle and a French Resistance fighter during World War II, and Geneviève Bujold, a Canadian actress best known for her role in the film "Anne of the Thousand Days".
The given statistics show the number of births for the name Genevive in the United States from 1892 to 2023. The data reveals fluctuations in popularity over time, with some years seeing more than ten times as many births as others.
In the early years recorded (1892-1926), the number of births was relatively low and varied between 5 and 35 per year. However, there was a significant increase starting from 1927, with at least 10 births every year until 1949.
The highest peak in popularity occurred in 1982, with 11 births recorded that year. This could potentially indicate that the name Genevive experienced a brief revival in popularity during this time.
Despite fluctuations over the years, Genevive remains a relatively uncommon name overall, with only 5 births recorded in the most recent years (2020-2023). This could suggest that parents today are opting for less traditional or more unique names for their daughters.