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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ginger

Ginger

♀ Girl

Pronounced JIN-jər /ˈdʒɪn.dʒər/High

Meaning: The pungent spice; from Latin zingiber via Greek — also a nickname for red hair and a pet form of VirginiaHigh

In 30 seconds: Spice, sparkle, and red hair in one snappy name: Ginger is the warming root, the nickname for redheads, and Virginia's peppiest short form. Fred Astaire's perfect partner wore it.
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Origin HighEnglish, Latin
MeaningThe pungent spice; from Latin zingiber via Greek — also a nickname for red hair and a pet form of Virginia
U.S. rank (2025)#3308 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births47 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1971
Total births (all-time)≈ 46,217

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197119132025

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

Ginger is the spice — Latin zingiber from Greek and ultimately Sanskrit — long a nickname for red-haired people and a pet form of Virginia. Hollywood's Ginger Rogers (born Virginia) made it dazzle, and Gilligan's Island and spice-name fashion keep it warm.

As a given name it is uncommon and zesty, riding the vintage-and-spice-name revival with Saffron and Clove. Red-rooted and effervescent.

Did you know? Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did 'backwards and in high heels' — but Ginger was her nickname; she was born Virginia, and the spice-name stuck for life.
Overall data confidence 88%
Oxford English Dictionary — ginger — word etymology

Variations

GingarVirginia

Nicknames

Gin

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ginger Rogers (1911-1995)
    American actress and dancer, frequent partner of Fred Astaire
  • ★Ginger Baker (1939-2019)
    English drummer and co-founder of the rock band Cream
  • ★Ginger Lynn (1962-)
    American actress and former adult-film performer

If you like Ginger…

Clementine— a fellow zesty vintage word-name
Scarlett— another red-toned girls' favorite
Pepper— the spice-name sibling
Heather— a fellow English choice
Wilder— shares the -er ending

Explore names like Ginger

By themeword-namevintagespice
By meaningSnow / WinterWind / Air

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ginger mean?

Ginger is the spice, from Latin zingiber — also a nickname for red hair and a pet form of Virginia.

How do you pronounce Ginger?

It's said JIN-jər /ˈdʒɪn.dʒər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ginger a boy or girl name?

Ginger is a girl's name.

How popular is Ginger?

Ginger is an uncommon spice-name in the U.S., riding the vintage revival.

💬 Ask Nia