Geneviève is a female given name of French origin. It is derived from the Germanic elements "gōd" meaning "good" and "frū" meaning "peace". Thus, Geneviève means "woman of peace". The name was popularized in France through Saint Geneviève, who was born in Nanterre around 420 AD. She played a significant role in protecting Paris from Attila the Hun's army during her lifetime. As a result, she is considered one of the patrons saints of Paris and has been venerated since the Middle Ages. The name Geneviève has been used throughout history among French nobility and commoners alike. It gained popularity outside of France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to its usage in Victor Hugo's novel "Les Misérables". Today, Geneviève remains a popular choice for parents looking for a unique yet timeless name for their daughters. Some notable individuals with this name include French actresses Geneviève Bujold and Geneviève Castrée, as well as Canadian poet Geneviève Taggart.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Genieve has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past century in the United States. The highest number of births recorded for this name was 22 in 1915, indicating that it was relatively common during that time. However, there were several years where only 5 births were recorded, suggesting that the name was quite uncommon during those periods.
The popularity of Genieve appears to have peaked early on and then declined steadily throughout the mid-20th century. There is a notable gap in data between 1965 and 2000, but even after this period, the name remained relatively rare, with fewer than 10 births recorded per year.
Despite its fluctuating popularity, it's interesting to note that Genieve has consistently been given as a name over the past century, with at least one birth recorded in every decade except for the 1950s and 1960s. This suggests that there is still some level of appreciation for this unique name among parents.
In total, there have been 536 births of girls named Genieve in the United States since 1900. While this number may seem relatively low compared to more popular names, it's important to remember that each of these births represents a family's decision to give their daughter a distinct and special name.