Gene

Last seen for girls in 2024 at #15,293 · #2,230 for boys in 2025, 63 births
Given to boys 94.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1937 · 3,165 births
Debut · boys
7 births
In top 100 · boys
21 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
126,877
since 1880

Gene over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201956peak #352, 1925peak #61, 1937girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#2,23063
2024#15,2935#1,90283
2023—#1,99976
2022—#2,03974
2021—#1,88481
2020—#1,65596
2019#13,7996#1,86880
2018#12,4647#2,16764
2017—#1,74688
2016—#1,87579
2015#11,8358#2,08667
2014—#2,40253
2013—#2,02167
2012—#1,98371
2011#16,7645#2,14561
2010—#2,06965
2009—#1,82581
2008—#1,83879
2007—#1,74185
2006—#1,55195
2005#14,5026#1,52593
2004#16,0995#1,343109
2003#15,7845#1,310106
2002—#1,33299
2001#15,3525#1,100129
2000—#1,128123
1999—#922160
1998#11,1387#1,005136
1997#13,7245#859164
1996#11,8076#838170
1995#8,7669#809174
1994—#722209
1993#8,05210#696221
1992#11,7386#651252
1991#9,3368#580305
1990#7,88010#617267
1989#10,8476#569291
1988#5,89513#523303
1987#8,7787#494324
1986#7,1349#481328
1985#8,3187#464344
1984#6,8109#432375
1983#5,45712#423374
1982#5,91111#409413
1981#4,00519#398418
1980#5,54412#380451
1979#5,75111#361488
1978#5,95810#361453
1977#4,94213#342523
1976#4,36314#355464
1975#3,77417#322556
1974#3,69517#316570
1973#4,15514#291625
1972#2,82024#264742
1971#2,80125#253878
1970#2,70526#250934
1969#4,19812#2251,038
1968#2,16431#2161,072
1967#2,49224#2091,068
1966#3,74012#2051,145
1965#2,68421#1931,307
1964#2,34827#1801,530
1963#2,70421#1911,564
1962#2,11331#2011,514
1961#2,60822#1861,667
1960#1,95334#1741,796
1959#1,85236#1631,934
1958#1,55747#1681,815
1957#1,78437#1691,839
1956#1,53348#1701,754
1955#1,30959#1521,892
1954#1,24963#1511,900
1953#1,22562#1432,006
1952#1,21661#1382,073
1951#1,07874#1262,231
1950#1,02679#1222,250
1949#90995#1192,444
1948#91490#1112,542
1947#820114#1032,894
1946#686135#982,759
1945#722106#1002,373
1944#732107#952,602
1943#768102#892,865
1942#668126#823,127
1941#82177#723,073
1940#93559#703,060
1939#81871#693,014
1938#81175#653,149
1937#78875#613,165
1936#78574#662,909
1935#82369#662,937
1934#74680#672,854
1933#69887#662,780
1932#606117#642,952
1931#600122#642,766
1930#521168#702,787
1929#534161#682,810
1928#462223#623,088
1927#437246#722,802
1926#408278#912,083
1925#352374#1121,579
1924#436257#1351,275
1923#466217#1401,170
1922#468214#1431,089
1921#523183#169873
1920#477204#173810
1919#543160#191676
1918#583151#192662
1917#500174#207542
1916#619119#212517
1915#533140#212493
1914#532109#226352
1913#58776#237248
1912#67854#256187
1911#64145#254102
1910#75332#25391
1909#62439#24481
1908#88220#23878
1907#76024#26065
1906#73125#24963
1905#73424#30344
1904#72723#24958
1903#57432#27845
1902#66725#29941
1901#65923#31831
1900#70526#30148
1899#83515#39422
1898#76819#39425
1897#98211#43819
1896#72819#35729
1895#85814#34728
1894#1,1368#43919
1893#86512#38322
1892#76215#39423
1891#66916#45615
1890#82511#43417
1889#9029#58111
1888#75312#58012
1887#9377#37719
1886—#51213
1885#1,0475#39920
1884—#57011
1883—#59710
1882#7407#48914
1881—#50312
1880—#7457
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Gene was already there! It came in at #745, and was given to 7 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880, when fewer than 8 boys a year got the name.

Where Gene is popular in 1956

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Gene, so not publishedAKMaine: #146 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,153 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Gene, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Gene, so not publishedNHWashington: #124 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 706 boysWAIdaho: #191 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,208 boysIDMontana: #140 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 718 boysMTNorth Dakota: #101 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 530 boysNDMinnesota: #90 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 579 boysMNIllinois: #178 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 1,459 boysILWisconsin: #113 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 832 boysWIMichigan: #178 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 1,430 boysMINew York: #211 for boys · 88 births · 1 in 2,003 boysNYMassachusetts: #148 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 2,226 boysMARhode Island: #140 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,842 boysRIOregon: #132 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 813 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Gene, so not publishedNVWyoming: #95 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 438 boysWYSouth Dakota: #110 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 632 boysSDIowa: #112 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 749 boysIAIndiana: #139 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 1,005 boysINOhio: #162 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 1,257 boysOHPennsylvania: #148 for boys · 84 births · 1 in 1,466 boysPANew Jersey: #142 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,371 boysNJConnecticut: #142 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,545 boysCTCalifornia: #166 for boys · 154 births · 1 in 1,089 boysCAUtah: #278 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,403 boysUTColorado: #157 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 970 boysCONebraska: #110 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 668 boysNEMissouri: #147 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 926 boysMOKentucky: #137 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 956 boysKYWest Virginia: #135 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 938 boysWVVirginia: #172 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 1,201 boysVAMaryland: #196 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,857 boysMDDelaware: #128 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 833 boysDEArizona: #203 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,180 boysAZNew Mexico: #167 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 868 boysNMKansas: #160 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 991 boysKSArkansas: #161 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 924 boysARTennessee: #192 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,463 boysTNNorth Carolina: #166 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 1,047 boysNCSouth Carolina: #172 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,026 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #274 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,993 boysDCOklahoma: #162 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 955 boysOKLouisiana: #170 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 918 boysLAMississippi: #231 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,679 boysMSAlabama: #211 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,428 boysALGeorgia: #168 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 1,067 boysGAHawaii: #240 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,475 boysHITexas: #192 for boys · 111 births · 1 in 1,116 boysTXFlorida: #161 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 1,026 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Minnesota#90 · 1 in 579
  2. Wyoming#95 · 1 in 438
  3. North Dakota#101 · 1 in 530
  4. South Dakota#110 · 1 in 632
  5. Nebraska#110 · 1 in 668

Best ever in a state: #15 in Idaho, 1927.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Minnesota#90691 in 579
Wyoming#9581 in 438
North Dakota#101141 in 530
Nebraska#110241 in 668
South Dakota#110131 in 632
Iowa#112411 in 749
Wisconsin#113551 in 832
Washington#124451 in 706
Delaware#12861 in 833
Oregon#132221 in 813
West Virginia#135231 in 938
Kentucky#137381 in 956
Indiana#139551 in 1,005
Montana#140111 in 718
Rhode Island#14051 in 1,842
Connecticut#142161 in 1,545
New Jersey#142431 in 1,371
Maine#14691 in 1,153
Missouri#147521 in 926
Massachusetts#148251 in 2,226
Pennsylvania#148841 in 1,466
Colorado#157211 in 970
Kansas#160251 in 991
Arkansas#161221 in 924
Florida#161461 in 1,026
Ohio#162921 in 1,257
Oklahoma#162261 in 955
California#1661541 in 1,089
North Carolina#166531 in 1,047
New Mexico#167141 in 868
Georgia#168471 in 1,067
Louisiana#170461 in 918
South Carolina#172301 in 1,026
Virginia#172371 in 1,201
Illinois#178771 in 1,459
Michigan#178701 in 1,430
Idaho#19161 in 1,208
Tennessee#192281 in 1,463
Texas#1921111 in 1,116
Maryland#196171 in 1,857
Arizona#203121 in 1,180
Alabama#211281 in 1,428
New York#211881 in 2,003
Mississippi#231171 in 1,679
Hawaii#24051 in 1,475
District of Columbia#27451 in 2,993
Utah#27851 in 2,403
Alaska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Vermont———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Gene
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 328 spots since 2024 (#1,902 → #2,230)
  • 575 spots since 2020 (#1,655 → #2,230)
  • 144 spots since 2015 (#2,086 → #2,230)
  • Biggest jump: 242 spots in 1881 (#745 → #503)
  • Biggest drop: 206 spots in 2000 (#922 → #1,128)
Rise & fade · boys
57 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1937 at #61 (3,165 births)
  • Births halved by 1962, 25 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 21 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 21 yrs · run 1926–1946
  • Top 1,000: 119 yrs · run 1880–1997
Share of babies · boys
1 in 337
  • Highest: 1 in 337 boys born in 1937 were named Gene (0.30%)
  • Latest: 1 in 27,112 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1930s
  • 23.1% of all boys named Gene (29,313) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 1892
  • Mostly girls until 1891, mostly boys since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s129#377 (1887)#535
1890s219#347 (1895)#404
1900s554#238 (1908)#274
1910s3,870#191 (1919)#224
1920s17,579#62 (1928)#117
1930s29,313#61 (1937)#66
1940s27,739#70 (1940)#94
1950s19,694#122 (1950)#150
1960s13,701#174 (1960)#198
1970s6,233#250 (1970)#312
1980s3,621#380 (1980)#457
1990s2,058#580 (1991)#770
2000s999#1,100 (2001)#1,469
2010s695#1,746 (2017)#2,036
2020s473#1,655 (2020)#1,952

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Gene in 1956

girls
#1,533
48 births · 1 in 41,827 girls
boys
#170
1,754 births · 1 in 1,206 boys

Top girls' names in 1956

  1. #1Mary61,741
  2. #2Debra48,324
  3. #3Linda48,084
  4. #4Deborah47,834
  5. #5Susan46,558
  6. #6Patricia43,329
  7. #7Karen40,052
  8. #8Cynthia32,339
  9. #9Barbara32,302
  10. #10Donna29,852
  11. #1,533Gene48

Top boys' names in 1956

  1. #1Michael90,691
  2. #2James84,897
  3. #3Robert83,924
  4. #4David81,652
  5. #5John80,804
  6. #6William58,991
  7. #7Richard52,915
  8. #8Mark48,828
  9. #9Thomas44,836
  10. #10Steven38,413
  11. #170Gene1,754
More about 1956

girls

2,007,703 girls got a published name in 1956; 1 in 41,827 of them was named Gene, which outranked 77.8% of the 6,891 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gene
  1. #1,520Thresa49
  2. #1,520Verlene49
  3. #1,520Vernessa49
  4. #1,533Gene48
  5. #1,533Allene48
  6. #1,533Augusta48
  7. #1,533Chiquita48
  8. #1,548Albertha47
  9. #1,548Arlette47
  10. #1,548Bobbye47

Tied with 14 names at #1,533; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1955
Risers
  1. ↑ 993Sheena#1,839 → #846
  2. ↑ 770Glendora#1,733 → #963
  3. ↑ 684Leesa#1,209 → #525
  4. ↑ 543Marisa#1,074 → #531
  5. ↑ 537Dani#1,383 → #846
Fallers
  1. ↓ 513Sheilah#663 → #1,176
  2. ↓ 481Jeryl#768 → #1,249
  3. ↓ 344Jacalyn#496 → #840
  4. ↓ 325Roni#536 → #861
  5. ↓ 314Florine#984 → #1,298

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,115,302 boys got a published name in 1956; 1 in 1,206 of them was named Gene, which outranked 96.2% of the 4,455 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 31.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gene
  1. #167Franklin1,793
  2. #168Lewis1,767
  3. #169Juan1,756
  4. #170Gene1,754
  5. #171Neil1,747
  6. #172Floyd1,729
  7. #173Donnie1,723
Biggest movers since 1955
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,847Jace#2,764 → #917
  2. ↑ 678Rich#1,572 → #894
  3. ↑ 590Broderick#1,273 → #683
  4. ↑ 559Elvis#921 → #362
  5. ↑ 513Tracey#1,419 → #906
Fallers
  1. ↓ 351Adolphus#906 → #1,257
  2. ↓ 336Randolf#949 → #1,285
  3. ↓ 279Cordell#792 → #1,071
  4. ↓ 272Rudolfo#885 → #1,157
  5. ↓ 269Aurelio#949 → #1,218

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1956 →