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Gennara & Gennaro

Gennara (jen-NAR-uh) is the Italian word and name meaning "January." In Latin the meaning was "devoted to Janus." Gennaro (jen-NAH-row), the male version, was on the SSA top 1000 twice - once in 1911 and then in 1913. Gennara has no SSA data, but the other spelling option Genara was used a handful of times - four separate years, no more than 11 times in a year. Jenara is the Spanish form.

There is a Saint Gennara and a Saint Gennaro. Gennara of Albitina may have been two women with the same name, martyred at the same time. Saint Gennaro, also known as Saint Januarius I of Benevento, was the patron saint of Naples, Italy, martyred in the 4th century. There was also Blessed Gennaro Sarnelli.

There was royalty with the name Gennaro as well - Prince Gennaro Carlo Francesco of Naples and Sicily, who was the son of Ferdinand IV, and Prince Gennaro Maria Immacolata Luigi, also known as Prince Januarius, the Count of Caltagirone and Prince of Bourbon-Two Sicilies who died in early childhood from cholera.

At least four Italian football (soccer) players have this name, three or more artists, as well as an Italian film director, and Gennaro Arcucci, the Caprese martyr in the Bourbon Restoration

A few princesses have had one middle name of Gennara, including Maria, Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Anne of Orleans, Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma, and Empress Consort Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies.
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