Ginger
Ginger was the 3308th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1971, when it ranked 187th with 1,670 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 678 places. More babies were named Ginger in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Virginia; also "ginger-haired" · English, Latin
Say it JIN-jer /ˈdʒɪndʒər/
- Rank in 2025
- #3,308 girls, down 6 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 47girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19711,670 babies
- Total since 1880
- 46,260babies recorded
What does the name Ginger mean?
Ginger began as a pet form of Virginia and as a nickname for someone with reddish-orange hair, from the spice ginger. Virginia is the feminine of the Roman family name Verginius, of uncertain origin. The actress and dancer Ginger Rogers (born Virginia McMath) made it widely known. Ginger was most popular as a given name in the US around 1970.
Virginia (Latin, “feminine of the family name Verginius”)ginger (English, “the spice; reddish-orange color”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Virginia, Ginny, Gigi.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ginger', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Virginia', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Ginger (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Ginger popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 42 since 1964.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,308 | 47 |
| 2020 | #3,302 | 47 |
| 2010 | #1,516 | 148 |
| 2000 | #1,623 | 109 |
| 1990 | #1,177 | 146 |
| 1980 | #324 | 751 |
| 1970 | #226 | 1,381 |
| 1960 | #266 | 1,137 |
| 1950 | #303 | 657 |
| 1940 | #475 | 202 |
| 1930 | #1,331 | 33 |
| 1920 | #1,389 | 33 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Ginger, counting every spelling?
Ginger has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Ginger?
47 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ginger (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Ginger 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 179 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ginger.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ginger?
About 39,100 people born in the US named Ginger are alive today, with a median age of 57; half are between 49 and 67. That makes Ginger a name most people associate with older generations.
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.
Ginger by state
How common Ginger was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 45 states fewer than five girls 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 Ginger: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ginger, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Ginger · Sibling names for Ginger
Ginger is also a nickname for Virginia.
Questions about the name Ginger
What does Ginger mean?
Ginger means “pet form of Virginia; also "ginger-haired"” (English, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Ginger?
Ginger was the 3308th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1971, when it ranked 187th with 1,670 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 678 places. More babies were named Ginger in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Ginger a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Ginger in the US.
Where is Ginger most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ginger was most common in Tennessee (0.04 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Georgia.