Gennaro

Origin & Meaning

Gennaro is the Italian form of Januarius — from the Latin Januarius, meaning of January, itself from Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, gates, and time. January was named for Janus, who looks both forward and backward. The name became immensely important in Naples through its association with the city's patron saint, San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), bishop of Benevento, martyred in 305 AD.

History in Italy

San Gennaro's blood, preserved in a glass vial in Naples Cathedral, is believed to liquefy three times a year in a miracle witnessed by thousands. When the blood liquefies, it is a sign of the city's protection; when it does not, catastrophe is feared. The liquefaction on his feast day (September 19) has occurred — with some notable exceptions — for seven centuries. The name Gennaro in Naples is not merely a name but an expression of civic and religious identity.

Regional Origins

Gennaro is overwhelmingly Neapolitan and Campanian. Outside Naples it is comparatively rare. In the United States, Gennaro in a family tree means almost certainly Campanian origin — most likely the area around Naples itself.

Famous People Named Gennaro

San Gennaro — patron saint of Naples, martyred 305 AD. The Feast of San Gennaro in New York's Little Italy — held annually in September — is one of the oldest Italian-American street festivals. Gennaro Contaldo — Italian chef and mentor of Jamie Oliver.

In the Italian Diaspora

The Feast of San Gennaro in Mulberry Street, Manhattan, has been held every September since 1926. The Neapolitan immigrants who settled Little Italy brought their patron saint with them. Gennaro as a given name is a strong marker of Neapolitan immigrant ancestry.