Genia

♀ Girl

Pronounced JEEN-yuh /ˈdʒiːn.jə/Medium

Meaning: Genia is a diminutive drawn chiefly from Eugenia ('well-born, noble', Greek eugenes) and sometimes Virginia; the child's meaning follows the parent, most often 'nobly born'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Genia is the tidy tail-end of Eugenia (Greek 'well-born') or Virginia (said 'JEEN-yuh') — a soft, old-world short form.

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningGenia is a diminutive drawn chiefly from Eugenia ('well-born, noble', Greek eugenes) and sometimes Virginia; the child's meaning follows the parent, most often 'nobly born'.

U.S. rank (2020)#15911 ↘ Falling

2020 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1964

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,673

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Genia is a short form of Eugenia, from Greek eugenes, 'well-born, noble', and occasionally of Virginia. It carried gentle turn-of-the-century and immigrant-community use.

Never common on its own, Genia peaked modestly in the mid-twentieth-century and stayed rare; it reads as a grandmother-era European name and has not revived.

Did you know? In Slavic languages Genia (Zhenya) is a familiar pet form of Eugenia and Yevgenia, which is part of why the name feels European even in its American use.

Overall data confidence 55%

Behind the Name — Eugenia — parent name etymology, Greek eugenes

Variations

EugeniaZhenyaJenya

Nicknames

GenGenie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Genia…

Eugenia— the noble Greek name Genia shortens

Virginia— the other parent name it can shorten

Gina— a like short, warm European nickname-name

Genevieve— shares the soft French-inflected feel and Gen- sound

Explore names like Genia

By themevintage short european

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Genia mean?

Genia is a short form of Eugenia, Greek for 'well-born' or 'noble', and sometimes of Virginia.

How do you pronounce Genia?

It's said JEEN-yuh /ˈdʒiːn.jə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Genia a boy or girl name?

Genia is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Genia?

Genia is a rare name in the U.S., most familiar as a European short form of Eugenia.