Gean
Gean was the 12660th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1932, when it ranked 1525th with 22 babies. More babies were named Gean in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Gene) short form of Eugene, 'well born' · English, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #12,660 boys
- Babies in 2025
- 5boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 193222 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,234babies recorded
What does the name Gean mean?
Gean is a spelling of Gene, pronounced the same way, so it shares Gene's meaning and origin.
Gene is a short form of Eugene, as Wiktionary notes, and was used for both boys and girls, and often as a formal name. Eugene is from Greek Eugenios, from eu 'well' and genos 'birth, family', so 'well born'. Gene Kelly and Gene Autry made it familiar in the US in the mid-20th century; for girls it was also short for Jean or Eugenia.
εὖ (eu) (Ancient Greek, “well”)γένος (genos) (Ancient Greek, “birth, family”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Eugene, Eugenia, Jean.
See also: Greek names, names that mean noble.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Gene', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Eugene', DMNES (Durham University)
Gean popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | #12,660 | — | 5 |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | #5,128 | — | 7 |
| 1970 | — | #3,990 | — | 7 |
| 1960 | #5,346 | #2,750 | 7 | 10 |
| 1950 | #3,120 | #2,490 | 12 | 10 |
| 1940 | #1,986 | #2,968 | 17 | 7 |
| 1930 | #1,971 | #2,113 | 18 | 14 |
| 1920 | #2,393 | #2,847 | 15 | 10 |
| 1910 | #2,011 | — | 7 | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Gean, counting every spelling?
Gean is a spelling of Gene, a name family that had 68 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 68 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene | 63 | #2,238 | 377 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Gean?
5 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Gean (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Gean born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,661 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Gean.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Gean?
About 200 people born in the US named Gean are alive today, with a median age of 62; half are between 34 and 76. That makes Gean a name most people associate with older generations. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Gean by state
How common Gean was among boys born in each state in 1930–1934, around its peak. In 50 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Gean: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Gean, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Gean
What does Gean mean?
Gean is a spelling of Gene, which means “short form of Eugene, 'well born'” (English, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Gean?
Gean was the 12660th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1932, when it ranked 1525th with 22 babies. More babies were named Gean in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Gean a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Gean in the US.
Where was Gean most popular?
In 1930–1934, Gean was most common in Texas (0.02 per 1,000 boys).