Jennifer Hussein. Updated. There is a lot that people don't know about Gigi Hadid. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images. Gigi Hadid comes from a family of supermodels. Her real name is Jelena — Gigi is a nickname. She's a skilled equestrian who loves to cook. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Advertisement. Gigi is a Taurus.
The name Gigi is thought to have originated as a nickname for grandma or grandmother in France in the early 20th century. It comes from the French word "grand-mère" which means grandmother. The name Gigi gained popularity in 1944 when it was used as the title for the novella Gigi by French novelist Colette.
So what's her birth name? Jelena Noura Hadid. And if fans are wondering how she acquired her more famous moniker, Gigi explained it to Style.com earlier this year. Her famous mom, Real Housewives Today, the name Gigi is commonly associated with elegance, grace, and beauty, and is often given to girls who are born into families that appreciate these qualities. Interestingly, the name Gigi has also been used as a nickname for other names, such as Georgina, Genevieve, and even Virginia.