Meaning & Origin
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Eugene, also used as a formal male given name. A female given name, used as a formal female given name. A diminutive of the female given name Genevieve A diminutive of the female given name Eugenia
Gene is a boy's and girl's baby name of Greek origin, a short form of Eugene, from the Greek Eugenios, meaning 'well-born' or 'noble.' As a standalone name, Gene was widely used through much of the 20th century, particularly in entertainment.
Gene peaked in the U.S. top 50 from the 1920s through the 1950s, carried by icons like Gene Kelly, Gene Autry, and Gene Hackman. It's sharply, elegantly short — one of those single-syllable names that holds enormous creative history.