Geneva

  • [ jə-NEE-və ]
  • English
Possibly a shortened form of GENEVIEVE. It could also be inspired by the name of the city in Switzerland. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.

GENEVIEVE   female   English
English form of GENEVIÈVE.
GENEVIèVE   female   French
From the medieval name Genovefa, which is of uncertain origin. It could be derived from the Germanic elements kuni "kin, family" and wefa "wife, woman". Alternatively it could be of Gaulish origin, from the related Celtic element genos "kin, family" combined with a second element of unknown meaning. This name was borne by Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, who inspired the city to resist the Huns in the 5th century.
DIMINUTIVES AND SHORT FORMS
ENGLISH: Neva
OTHER FORMS
ANCIENT GERMANIC: Genovefa
ENGLISH: Genevieve, Veva
FRENCH: Geneviève, Ginette
ITALIAN: Genoveffa
POLISH: Genowefa
PORTUGUESE: Genoveva
SPANISH: Genoveva