Boy · 31st of 7,545
Eugene
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
383,085
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1927
Peak Popularity Year
9,827
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Eugene stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
The name Eugene has Greek origins, meaning 'well-born' or 'noble'. It evolved from Eugenios in Greek to Eugenius in Latin, and eventually to Eugene in English. It is associated with qualities of nobility and has no direct biblical relevance. The name became more popular in the 19th century and is seen as a classic choice today. Variants include Eugenio and Gene, and it is borne by notable individuals such as Eugene O'Neill and Eugene Levy.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/juːˈdʒiːn/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Eugene derives from the Greek name 'Eugenios', which means 'well-born' or 'noble'.
Meaning
noble, well-born
Language Evolution
Eugenios (Greek), Eugenius (Latin), Eugene (English)
Historical Usage
The name Eugene gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, partly due to the influence of certain notable figures and its use in literature.
Variants & Derivatives
Eugenio, Eugénie, Eugénia, Gene
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Eugene is viewed as a classic name that carries connotations of sophistication and tradition.
Famous People
Eugene O'Neill - American playwright, Eugene Debs - American political activist, Eugene Levy - Canadian actor and comedian
Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Declining
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 9,827 peak births in 1927
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in North Dakota
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 8 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 14 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 31st of 7545 | 106,483 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 30th of 6773 | 123,915 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 83rd of 7552 | 88,138 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 150th of 10718 | 30,323 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 280th of 16616 | 13,878 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 606th of 24088 | 6,091 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 833rd of 23106 | 3,305 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1069th of 9107 | 850 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1146th of 9204 | 774 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2468th of 12526 | 395 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3684th of 19264 | 277 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7866th of 27321 | 143 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 14637th of 35406 | 81 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 26286th of 30306 | 10 |