Gene

Gene - A very unique male name

Gene appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #321. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Gene and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Gene? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Gene. The baby boy name Gene was given to 16 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2650 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 91,643 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Gene peaked in popularity 98 years ago in 1928 on position 62.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Gene, 1-5?

Gene is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Gene is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #1,628 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,374.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Gene is where you live.

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Gene origin and meaning

English — short form of Eugene

A short form of Eugene, from Greek eugenes, 'well-born, noble'

Gene stood on its own through the mid twentieth century, peaking in 1937, carried by stars like Gene Kelly and Gene Autry. It has fallen steadily for decades and is now rarer than at any point in its history. Its derivation through Eugene is fully attested.

Attested etymology

Gene is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Gene, pop culture references for the name Gene and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Gene

We've found the following names that sound similar to Gene, sorted by popularity.

Gianni / Gino / Gannon / Gian / Gionni / Geno / Giacomo / Gohan / Gwyn / Gina /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Gene

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Gene a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Gene?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

JEEN · /dʒiːn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Eugene — The full name it shortens
• Jean — The French form, also a girls' name in English

Famous bearers

• Gene Kelly — Dancer and star of Singin' in the Rain (1912–1996) Historical
• Gene Hackman — Two-time Oscar-winning actor, star of The French Connection (1930–2025) Contemporary
• Gene Wilder — Comic actor, star of Willy Wonka and the Mel Brooks films (1933–2016) Contemporary

Style

Short formClassic

Why parents choose it

A plain, mid-century short name that now feels almost daring in its simplicity.

Worth knowing

• Identical in sound to Jean, and to the biology word 'gene'