Given name & surname
Gene
“a wellborn man”·“a wellborn woman”·“God is gracious”
Gene is a short form of Eugene. One Greek interpretation is “a wellborn man.” Gene is a form of Eugenia. In Greek use, Eugenia carries the interpretation “a wellborn woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Gene carries the interpretation “a wellborn man.” Gene is a short form of Eugene. One Greek interpretation is “a wellborn man.” Gene is a form of Eugenia. In Greek use, Eugenia carries the interpretation “a wellborn woman.” Gene is a form of Jean. In French use, Jean carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” In English use, Gene is a diminutive of Genevieve. One French interpretation is “of the race of women; the white wave.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Gene is used as a shortened form of Eugene. Gene is used as a form of Eugenia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Gene through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 133,874
- 126,877 boys · 6,997 girls
- Most popular year
- 1928
- 3,311 babies
- 2025
- 63
- #2,238 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −9%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 98% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 63 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,238 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 7.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 3,165 in 1937. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 64,474 as a first name in 2020; 623 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gene’s family of names
In English usage, Gene is a diminutive of Eugene. Gene is a form of Jean. Gene is a short form of Eugene.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 18
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Gene
- Gene WilderAmerican actor (1933–2016)
- Gene HackmanAmerican actor and novelist (1930–2025)
- Gene KellyAmerican dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer (1912–1996)
- Gene RoddenberryAmerican television screenwriter and producer (1921–1991)
- Gene CernanNASA astronaut, Naval aviator, aeronautical engineer, electrical engineer, fighter pilot, eleventh human to walk on the Moon (Apollo 10 and Apollo 17)1934–2017
- Gene TierneyAmerican actress (1920–1991)
- Gene SimmonsIsraeli-American musician and songwriter (born 1949)
- Gene SharpAmerican political scientist (1928-2018)
- Gene AmdahlAmerican physicist (1922-2015)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Gene, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gilbert
“servant of St BRIDGET” · “of the bright promise”
>99% boys
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83% boys · 17% girls
Eldon
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Elvin
“a friend of the elves”
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Elgin
“a noble man; one who is white-skinned”
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Lyle
“from the island”
98% boys · 2% girls
Garland
“decorated with a wreath of flowers” · “one who is crowned”
86% boys · 14% girls
Edsel
“one who is plain” · “one who is noble and bright”
>99% boys