place name
阮 is a kanji used primarily for a place name, with no broader conceptual center beyond that specific reference.
阮 combines the mound radical ⻖ with the phonetic 元. It is historically used as a place name and a surname, but the exact origin of the place association is uncertain.
The left mound radical ⻖ suggests a hill or place, and 元 (origin) marks it as a named location. Picture a sign on a hill reading 'Gen Village' to remember it is a place name.
For ゲン, imagine a place called Gen where the hills begin: Gen -> ゲン, and the mound radical ⻖ marks the spot.