GeneviÈVe

  • [ zhe-nə-VYEV, zhawn-VYEV ]
  • 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.

EQUIVALENTS
ANCIENT GERMANIC: Genovefa
ENGLISH: Genevieve
ITALIAN: Genoveffa
POLISH: Genowefa
PORTUGUESE: Genoveva
SPANISH: Genoveva
DIMINUTIVES AND SHORT FORMS
FRENCH: Ginette
OTHER FORMS
ENGLISH: Geneva, Neva, Veva