Comments for the name Geneviève

It's a beautiful name. I might want it someday for my own child.

From several sources that I have read, the name Genevieve is Gaulic, and means "white wave". The Gaulic, or Gallic, or Gaelic all stem from the same root. Galatia. The Galatians were a nomadic people with roots in the area south of the Black Sea at the time that St. Paul preached to them in the early Christian years. Genevieve's mother was Gerontia, a Gall, while her father was Valerius, a Roman.

Beware the American mispronunciation of this beautiful name: JENNA-VEEV.

Genevieve Gaunt plays Pansy Parkinson in the Harry Potter movies.

I like Genevieve with the nickname Evie.

I think this name is beautiful the way it's actually meant to be, but the only way I've ever actually heard it is the 'American mispronunciation' jenna-veev. We somehow manage to screw up everything over here don't we? :) Anyway like I said this name is beautiful, I just can't seem to pronounce it right and the pronunciation guide didn't help me at all.

Americans do not "always find a way to mess things up" as you say. People in different countries say and do things differently, it has to do with a difference of language and accents that give names different sounds. We don't speak French so we are not going to pronounce it like the French. I like Genevieve pronounced both the American way and the French way.

In the children's television show, Madeline, Genevieve is the talented pet dog.

A famous bearer is Canadian actress Genevieve Bujold (born July 1, 1942). She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion-Picture Drama and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1969 movie, "Anne of a Thousand Days".

The way I pronounce the French way of saying Genevieve is the way you say 'Jean' in French and then VYEV. I'm pretty sure that's right.

The name 'Genevieve' means 'White-Wave'. It is the French version of the name Gwenevere.

Genevieve is a lovely name, whether pronounced in the American way ("the American mispronunciation"), Jenna-veev, or the French way, Zhahn-vyev.

The source language of Genevieve is an Ancient Germanic expression meaning "Woman of the people." This meaning is an educated guess by scholars, who trace the elements of this name to Celtic sources only with great difficulty. Another interpretation could be "Mother of the race." This is the name of the patron saint of Paris, France, and its use in modern times can be seen as a tribute to that city, thus the association with France.

I love this name, but wouldn't use it because it would ultimately be shortened to Gen, which is boring! Oh and I like it pronounced the English way better than the French way.

There is a character in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events whose full name is Esmé Gigi Geneviève Squalor. She is a very vile woman.

This was almost my name, but my mother decided against it. She was afraid that people would say JENNA-VIVE instead of the lovely (and correct) French pronunciation!

Fascinating that St. Genevieve's parents were German and Gaelic. Being that the name Genevieve is Ancient Germanic, I doubt it's original pronunciation was zhe-ne-VYEV! I find the English pronunciation so much more beautiful, and the name so diverse.

My two friends who have the name Genevieve pronounce it jenna-veev. I was surprised to find it was actually a mispronunciation, but I guess they like it that way.

Canadian actress Genevieve Buechner bears the name.

I don't think there is a "correct" or "incorrect" pronunciation. It's simply pronounced differently in different languages, as most names are, and parents have a choice as to whether they'll use the French or English pronunciation. Either way it's a beautiful name!

I have to agree with the poster above, different countries, different cultures, different pronunciation, doesn't make it wrong. The only people I have met with this name pronounce it JENNA-VEEV.

If I have a daughter, I want to name her Genevieve or Genowefa. Genowefa is the Polish version of Genevieve. Sounds like: shjen-o-vee-fuh.

I you think that the English pronunciation is bad, let me tell you that my aunt did something worse! I have I cousin named Genevieve and her nickname was Genevy so my other aunt decided to name her daughter Jenevy but I told her that it wasn't Jenevy that it's Genevieve (zhon-vee-ev) and she insisted that it was Jenevy. That happened 5 years ago, and yeah, my cousin is named Jenevy.

This was to be my name, but my mother hated how the name was butchered into jenna-VEEV whenever she told someone about it.

All the South African Genevieves I've ever known have used a "JEN a veev" pronunciation; one of them was nicknamed Jenny. Not much French is taught here; same with the USA, no doubt. Same with Why-vonny (which is rare) and Helloiz, and Charl for a man to prevent the -es from being sounded!

My grandmother had this name and it was pronounced jenna-veeve and they called her Jenny. I thought it was a pretty name but she was a mean woman.

In the sacrament of Confimation, Catholics choose the name of a saint to call themselves as they enter the Church. It's kind of like naming yourself. When I made my Confirmation, I chose the name of Saint Genevieve. While mostly I chose this because of the namesake, I also chose it because it seems very pretty and French to me. I pronounce the French way, Zhyen e VIVE. However, with my first name being Danielle and my last and middle names both excruciating long Italian names, my name is very long now! Best hope that when I get married it's not to a guy with the last name of Smith! But I love this name, it's a good name for a girl.

I have a friend named Genevieve, but she goes by Gen. She hates how everyone always spells it "Jen" if they don't know her real name. I can see how that would get annoying.

If people are going to insist that we pronounce Genevieve jon-vi-ev, they might as well insist that we pronounce William gwee-yom, or Janice jon-ees.

This was my first grade teacher's name. She wasn't French, so I guess she pronounced it the American way: JENNA-VEEV.

Princess Genevieve is a princess in "Barbie In The 12 Dancing Princesses". Barbie plays Genevieve.

This is an elegant name with a beautiful sound. I vastly prefer the French pronunciation; the English version 'jen-a-veev' is clunky.

There seems to be some odd argument over how this name should be pronounced, though I would remind the readers that Anglophones do not speak French.

The name should be pronounced as [dʒɛnəvi:v] in English or as [ʒɛ:nəvjɛv] in French. I think that both are beautiful names, but also that it is really quite silly to argue over them.

If you wish to complain about the IPA symbols I use, please note that I am not spelling English words and need them to transcribe sounds that do not exist in English at all.

If you pick this name, don't whine about how no one can pronounce it right. It's a French name, and many people, especially in the US, can't speak French, and pronounce French in an atrocious way, for that matter. Pretentious people who think French names sound all sophisticated and classy pick this name, and then grit their teeth when, surprise surprise, people don't pronounce it in the French way. Besides, this name isn't very pretty, and it comes off as old-fashioned in addition to the snottiness. With all those pretty French names out there, why go for this one?

The incomparable Catherine Deneuve plays Genevieve in one of the greatest movies ever, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, where the name is pronounced "JEN-vee-ev."

My name is Genevieve. I love my name and many pronounce my name the English way and the French version. Although it seems many believe the name to be French in origin, it has Celtic roots (Welsh) from the name "Guinevere". Pronouncing the name "Jenn-eh-veev" does not butcher this name nor is this a mispronunciation. The French form is simply pronounced "Zhahn-v-yev". The reason for it's popularity in France is because of the custom of naming your daughter after a Saint, especially if her birthday was on the death day of that Saint, and in this instance, St. Genevieve, Patron Saint of Paris, death day January 3. Look up the story of St. Genevieve. Very interesting.

Pronounced in England, America and Australia/New Zealand as "Jen-ah-veeve". Nickname is spelled Gennie.

Such a pretty name. If I should have a daughter, I've thought of giving her this name and calling her Ginny for short. It seems to be a unique name without being way out there and the meaning is decent too. I'm a tad turned off after reading the other entries though. Has anyone known a nice, normal, kind, relaxed Genevieve? Or are they all "mean" and uptight?

I am a normal person bearing the name Genevieve. It is a lovely name, meaning, I believe, "Pure" or "White" I will probably name one of my children "Genevieve" and thereby carry on the name.

It is a French name in origin. In French, it is pronounced j-aw-v-ee-ev.

It is a French name in origin. It means "Pure" in French.

To be honest, I like the English pronunciation better then the French pronunciation. To me, Jennaveev sounds much prettier.

My name is Genevieve and I absolutely love it. It's pronounced the American way, but if I go to a different place, I think I'll tell everyone it's the French pronunciation. I also really don't like being called "Gen". It's boring and common. I'd much prefer Ginny as a nickname.

I think the French pronunciation is much better.

Genevieve really is a gorgeous name, but to be honest all I think of when I hear it is that dog off the cartoon Madeline when I was a kid. Therefore, I don't think I could name a child Genevieve; or a character, even.

That dog is the name Genevieve personified in the psyche younger members of Generation Y.

My old neighbor and her daughter were named Genevieve, but they pronounce it JEN-ah-veev.

I only like the correct pronunciation of this name. The butchered English pronunciation sounds terrible.

Genevieve makes me think of a generous girl. It has some innocence too it. I prefer the French version more than the English version because it is more unique and it has a nice flow to it especially if you're fluent in french. (not too brag, but I'm happy I know how to pronounce this name correctly). It also doesn't sound too innocent and can be used on an older person.

Love this name, HATE the nicknames.

Despite extremely disliking the name Genevieve, the pronunciation of Geneviève (zhe-nə-VYEV) seems to make all the difference. Sounds very pretty.

People have queried "white wave", but I've always assumed it means a breaking wave, sometimes called a white horse. Other suggestions include "white phantom", which is also pretty obvious, though in today's world an odd name to give a child.

Geneviève is such a beautiful name, especially pronounced the correct, French way. I love it.

Name of the day: June 16th, 2011.

Country duo Sugarland have a song called "Genevieve", using the English pronunciation.