Germaine
Germaine is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
Brotherly, genuine, or person from Germania.
Origin and history
Germaine is a French name derived from the Latin word Germanus, which historically referred to someone from Germania or a brother/sister. It gained popularity in France through Saint Germaine Cousin and became used in the English-speaking world in the 20th century. In the United States, it was moderately popular in the mid-20th century but is now given to very few baby girls each year.
Popularity in the United States
7,910 babies in the United States have been named Germaine since 1880. It ranks #1885 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2085.
States where it is most popular
- WI (13.7 %)
- MA (11.5 %)
- NY (10.9 %)
- PA (10 %)
- MI (8.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 27 |
| 1900-1910 | 230 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,028 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,644 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,354 |
| 1940-1950 | 809 |
| 1950-1960 | 882 |
| 1960-1970 | 939 |
| 1970-1980 | 560 |
| 1980-1990 | 231 |
| 1990-2000 | 129 |
| 2000-2010 | 43 |
| 2010-2019 | 18 |
| 2020-2029 | 16 |
Famous people named Germaine
- Germaine Greer: Writer, Academic
- Germaine Tailleferre: Composer
Nicknames
Gerry
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread historical use in France following the veneration of Saint Germaine Cousin in the 17th century.
- Germaine had its highest U.S. popularity during the early-to-mid 20th century before declining toward the end of the century.