Gigi began as a French pet form of names such as Georgine, Virginie and Gilberte, so it carries their meanings of "farmer" and "maiden" rather than one of its own. Colette's novella Gigi and the 1958 musical film made it a name in its own right, and model Gigi Hadid gave it a fresh, modern feel. In the United States Gigi remains rare: it reached number 2057 in 2022 and stands at number 2831 in 2025 with 60 births.