Lena Name Meaning

Lena has been associated with light, brightness, and radiance. In ancient times, the name was often given to babies born during the bright and sunny summer months.

Origins of the Name Lena

Lena is a name of German and Scandinavian origin, derived from the German name “Helene” which means “bright, shining light.” In Scandinavian countries, the name Lena is a shortened version of the name Magdalena, which means “of Magdala” or “from the tower.” This gives the name a sense of strength and protection.

Popularity of the Name Lena

Lena began to gain popularity as a name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was particularly popular in Germany and Scandinavian countries, and quickly spread to other parts of Europe and the United States.

In the early 20th century, the name was popularized by the German singer and actress Lena Zavaroni, who was known for her powerful voice and captivating performances. This helped to solidify the name’s place in popular culture and cemented its status as a timeless classic.

Lena reached its peak in popularity in the early 20th century, with the name appearing in the top 100 most popular girl’s names in the United States between 1900 and 1940. Despite a slight decline in popularity in recent years, the name continues to be a favorite among parents, and is a popular choice for girls all over the world.

Final Thoughts on the Name Lena

Today, Lena is a name that is synonymous with beauty, strength, and light. It’s a timeless classic that has stood the test of time and continues to be a popular choice among parents. The name is perfect for a girl who is bright, shining, and full of radiance.

In conclusion, Lena is a name that has a rich history and meaning behind it. It’s a name that has stood the test of time and continues to be a favorite among parents. Whether you’re looking for a strong, traditional name or simply love the sound of the name Lena, this classic name is sure to please.

Infographic of Lena name meaning, which is Lena is a shortened form of Madgalena and Helena, meaning woman from Magdala.
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Lena Name Popularity

How popular is the name Lena? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 66 1,414 0.4016%
1911 70 1,428 0.3835%
1912 70 1,888 0.3744%
1913 73 1,952 0.3443%
1914 75 2,242 0.3217%
1915 77 2,917 0.3211%
1916 85 2,854 0.2954%
1917 85 2,990 0.2989%
1918 93 2,932 0.2732%
1919 94 2,859 0.273%
1920 98 2,770 0.2491%
1921 104 2,699 0.2357%
1922 107 2,610 0.2343%
1923 108 2,501 0.2233%
1924 112 2,392 0.206%
1925 124 2,211 0.1956%
1926 123 2,124 0.1931%
1927 130 1,964 0.1774%
1928 132 1,785 0.1668%
1929 138 1,588 0.1533%
1930 144 1,457 0.1395%
1931 149 1,270 0.1287%
1932 156 1,225 0.124%
1933 168 1,056 0.1133%
1934 172 1,045 0.1081%
1935 183 940 0.0967%
1936 195 864 0.0897%
1937 203 807 0.0819%
1938 204 821 0.0802%
1939 218 728 0.0716%
1940 214 771 0.0725%
1941 218 768 0.0682%
1942 243 746 0.0591%
1943 248 740 0.0567%
1944 252 687 0.0554%
1945 250 700 0.0574%
1946 279 660 0.0447%
1947 296 672 0.0403%
1948 283 701 0.0439%
1949 311 589 0.0366%
1950 309 594 0.0369%
1951 316 588 0.0347%
1952 333 578 0.0331%
1953 336 574 0.0324%
1954 353 556 0.0304%
1955 373 522 0.0284%
1956 379 503 0.0266%
1957 395 497 0.0258%
1958 406 478 0.0253%
1959 419 477 0.0251%
1960 422 485 0.0256%
1961 408 524 0.0278%
1962 422 488 0.0266%
1963 420 484 0.027%
1964 410 530 0.0301%
1965 405 486 0.0297%
1966 392 497 0.0318%
1967 419 455 0.03%
1968 437 431 0.0287%
1969 444 423 0.0275%
1970 441 457 0.0287%
1971 435 442 0.0294%
1972 410 437 0.0321%
1973 423 426 0.0329%
1974 415 435 0.0335%
1975 435 417 0.0325%
1976 435 415 0.0322%
1977 450 403 0.0299%
1978 470 376 0.028%
1979 449 413 0.0293%
1980 443 447 0.0306%
1981 450 434 0.0295%
1982 430 469 0.0314%
1983 464 387 0.0262%
1984 441 430 0.0289%
1985 426 474 0.0312%
1986 503 375 0.0248%
1987 509 370 0.0242%
1988 558 333 0.0214%
1989 551 371 0.023%
1990 531 403 0.0243%
1991 524 401 0.0246%
1992 507 437 0.0274%
1993 578 367 0.0235%
1994 536 412 0.0268%
1995 579 348 0.0231%
1996 554 379 0.0253%
1997 538 398 0.0269%
1998 532 432 0.0289%
1999 539 427 0.0285%
2000 546 435 0.0285%
2001 557 425 0.0282%
2002 531 469 0.0313%
2003 509 518 0.034%
2004 528 501 0.0329%
2005 472 610 0.0399%
2006 482 608 0.0388%
2007 457 660 0.0418%
2008 441 674 0.0436%
2009 408 739 0.0494%
2010 369 816 0.0566%
2011 355 867 0.0609%
2012 354 843 0.0592%
2013 327 946 0.0664%
2014 273 1,133 0.0778%
2015 269 1,115 0.0766%
2016 271 1,110 0.077%
2017 297 1,043 0.0747%
2018 293 1,064 0.0774%
2019 260 1,209 0.0893%
2020 277 1,077 0.0846%
2021 295 955 0.0781%
2022 254 1,189 0.0901%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Lena

If you like Lena, you’ll love these other names like Lena.

What names are variants of Lena?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Lena.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Leena

Light; free man; palm tree

Slavic

Leina

Palm tree

Latin

Leyna
Lina

Palm tree

Latin

What names sound like Lena?

If you like how Lena sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Lena.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Lana

Little rock

English

Leana

To twine around

French

Lenae

Lime or linden tree

Scandinavian

Lenah

Light

Greek

Lenai

Porch

Polynesian

Lene

Mild, soft, silky

Latin

Lenna

Lion's strength

German

Lenya

Russian

Leona

Lion

Latin

Lona

A short form of Alonsa.

Luna

The moon

Latin

Lyna

Light; palm tree

Slavic

What names are similar to Lena?

Find a name that’s like Lena, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Aileen

“She shines in beauty;” an Irish form of Helen.

Ancient

Alina

Noble one

German

Arlene

Pledge, promise

Modern

Eileen

“The brightly shining one,” from the Greek lielene, something shining, as a torch.

Gaelic

Eleanor

Of unknown meaning

English

Helen

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Madeline

Woman from Magdala

English

Olena

Torch

Russian

Lists With Lena

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Lena.

Siblings of Lena

Mamas with kids named Lena also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Theo

God's gift

Greek

4 Comments

  1. It’s a 4 letter name like all our children. It means light. We loved looking at biblical references for the word light. Her middle two names are Helen and Joy. “Light Shining Joy”

    Reply

  2. I had a great grandmother named Magdalena who went by Lena. My mom was very close to her but I never knew her. Our Lena isn’t necessarily named after her, but I liked that it was a name in our German ancestry and that it is also a very historic and international name. Also simple and easy to say and spell.

    Reply

  3. Both my husband and I like that it is short and nice. She has sister Julia and brother Alan.

    Reply

  4. We found this name on both family trees. I wanted something short, easy to spell and not too common (but not too weird either). Goes well with her brother Theo.

    Reply

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