Genesis Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

Genesis is a Greek-origin name meaning “beginning” or “origin,” taken directly from the word and the title of the Bible’s first book.

Meaning	beginning, origin
Origin	Greek
Pronunciation	JEN-uh-sis
Gender	Used predominantly for girls in current English-speaking use
Related forms	none widely used; the name has stayed close to its original word form

Origin and history

Genesis comes directly from the Greek word for beginning or origin, best known in English as the title of the first book of the Bible, which recounts the creation narrative. As a given name rather than a book title, its use is relatively modern, part of a broader trend of using meaningful English or Greek words directly as first names.

Is Genesis a boy or girl name?

Genesis is used predominantly as a girl’s name in current English-speaking naming data, though it carries no strict grammatical gender in its Greek root.

Frequently asked questions

Is Genesis only used because of the Bible book?

The Biblical book is the name’s main point of cultural reference, though many parents choose it primarily for its meaning, beginning, rather than a specifically religious intention.

Is Genesis a new or old name?

Its use as a personal given name is relatively recent, even though the underlying Greek word and Biblical book title are ancient.

Related reading

Related culture page: Biblical girl names.