UK name, mostly girls
Germaine
A French feminine name derived from Latin meaning "descendant of the Romans".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2004. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Germaine is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Germaine popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2004 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4598, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 6 births.
This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2004. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Germaine. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2005 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Germaine ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales in 2004, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 6 girls were registered as Germaine.
- • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Germaine as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 85.7% of Germaine registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4598
2004
Births in 2004
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
6 births
Estimated living
24
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Germaine
In England and Wales birth records, Germaine has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 14.3% of registrations are for boys and 85.7% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Germaine registered for boys
- Ranked #2,419 in 1998
- 4 boys registered in 1998
- Peak: 1998 (4 births)
Germaine registered for girls
- Ranked #4,598 in 2004
- 3 girls registered in 2004
- Peak: 2000 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Germaine mean?
The name Germaine is derived from the Latin word "germanus," which means "brother" or "sibling." This name has its roots in ancient Roman culture and was initially used as a surname or family name.
In the early days of Christianity, the name Germaine gained popularity as it was associated with Saint Germaine, a 6th-century bishop of Paris who was known for his charitable works and advocacy for the poor. He is celebrated on May 28th in the Catholic Church.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Germaine was Germaine Cousin (1579-1601), a French peasant girl who was later canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. She was known for her piety and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In the 17th century, Germaine de Staël (1766-1817) was a prominent Swiss-French writer, literary critic, and influential figure during the French Revolution and the Romantic period. Her works, such as "De l'Allemagne" and "Corinne," explored themes of individuality, passion, and social reform.
Another notable figure with the name Germaine was Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983), a French composer and one of the few female members of the influential Les Six group of composers in the early 20th century. She is best known for her piano compositions and ballets.
Germaine Greer (born 1939) is an Australian academic, writer, and feminist scholar. Her groundbreaking book "The Female Eunuch" (1970) became a seminal text in the feminist movement and challenged traditional attitudes towards women's roles and sexuality.
Germaine Dulac (1882-1942) was a French filmmaker and pioneer of the avant-garde cinema movement in the early 20th century. She directed several experimental films, including "La Souriante Madame Beudet" (1923), which explored themes of female oppression and independence.
While the name Germaine has French and Latin origins, it has been used across various cultures and regions over the centuries, with notable individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in fields such as literature, religion, music, and feminism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Germaine over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Germaine in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2004. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Germaine, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2004, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Germaine by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Germaine was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3425 | 13 | 3 |
| 1990s | #3400 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Germaine
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Germaine: questions and answers
How popular is the name Germaine in the UK right now?
In 2004, Germaine was ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Germaine most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 6 babies registered as Germaine in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Germaine?
A French feminine name derived from Latin meaning "descendant of the Romans".
How many people are called Germaine in the UK?
A total of 24 babies have been registered as Germaine across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.