Genna is a spelling variant of Jenna, ultimately a modern short form of Jennifer — from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar meaning white wave or fair phantom (the same root as Guinevere). Read more about the origin of this name below ↓
Genna is a spelling variant of Jenna, ultimately a modern short form of Jennifer — from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar meaning white wave or fair phantom (the same root as Guinevere). Alternatively, Genna may be a variant of Gianna, the Italian feminine of John (from the Hebrew meaning God is gracious). The Genna spelling, with the G, emerged as a fashionable American variant in the 1980s. Genna peaked in 1986.
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Root name
The root form of Genna is
Jenna / Jennifer — meaning White wave, fair phantom.
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Modern usage
Genna remains a beloved choice. Timeless appeal across cultures and generations.
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How popular is Genna?
1986peak year
Genna's usage has fallen in recent decades. Today, Genna is a rare name in U.S. records with about 9 babies named Genna each year. At its height in 1986, Genna reached #1,050 nationally — 144 babies received it that single year. Its strongest stretch was the 1980s. In all, around 3,031 babies have been registered as Genna since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
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