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Genoveva, Geneva

Today's name: Genoveva, from Geneva
There are also the variants Genovefa, Genevra/Ginevra, Genever, Genevia, Geneve, Jeniver.

Pronunciation: jehn-oh-VEE-vah, HEN-oh-VEH-vah, jehn-oh-VAY-fah

Potential nicknames: Gen, Gena, Genna, Genny, Neva, Nova, Veva, Viva, Eve, Ever, Eva, Evie

Origin: Genoveva is the Spanish variant of either Old French Geneva. Geneva means "juniper," from French, and the old Dutch word for juniper, "genever, jeniver."

Popularity: Genoveva only ranked in the U.S. in 1885, 1894 and 1895. Geneva last ranked every year between 1880 (when the SSA first started keeping track) and 1995. In 2010 there were only 5 baby girls named Genoveva, and 15 in 2011, while there were 149 named Geneva, 6 Geneve, In 2011 there were 7 girls named Genavie, 15 Genoveva, 28 Genevie, and 156 Geneva.

Fun fact: (1) Saint Genoveva Torres Morales of Spain, lived from 1870 to 1956. Her feast day is January 5. (2) Genoveva Edroza-Matute was a Filipino author. (3) Lake Geneva, which touches both Switzerland and France. It was first called Geneva in the English language. There is also a Lake Geneva in Michigan and one in Wisconsin, possibly more elsewhere. (4) Geneva, Switzerland (and Illinois, and New York, with possibly more). (5) Fictional country of Genovia in "The Princess Diaries." (6) A good way to honor a special man in your life named Gene. (7) The Geneva Conventions. (8) The baby of Benicio del Toro and Kimberly Stewart is named Delilah Genoveva.

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Comments

  1. merdenomsnamesOctober 29, 2011 at 5:24 AM

    I really like Genevieve, whilst my sister prefers Guinevere. Personally, I find Genoveva a little clunky for my tastes.

    ReplyDelete

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