Jenna Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jenna is an English name derived from the Cornish name Gwenhwyfar, meaning 'fairness' or 'white enchantress.' It evolved from Jennifer and gained popularity in the late 20th century. The name is associated with traits of youthfulness and femininity and has no biblical relevance.
The name Jenna is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Jenna has been falling for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for female in MidWest, too rising for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Jenna' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4426th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10143rd out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4339th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2335th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1873rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 533rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 74th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 76th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 408th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jenna' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jenna"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɛnə/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Jenna is often considered a derivative of the name Jennifer, which itself comes from the Cornish name Gwenhwyfar, meaning 'white phantom' or 'white enchantress.' It was popularized in the 20th century and has various interpretations.
Meaning
fairness, white, or soft
Language Evolution
Gwenhwyfar, Jennifer, Jenna
Historical Usage
Jenna became popular in the United States in the late 20th century, particularly after the 1980s, partly due to its use in popular culture.
Variants & Derivatives
Jen, Jenny, Jenni
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Jenna is viewed as a modern and approachable name. It is often associated with youthfulness and femininity.
Famous People
Jenna Fischer - American actress known for her role in 'The Office', Jenna Dewan - American actress and dancer, Jenna Ortega - American actress known for her roles in various television series and films
Explore More Jenna Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jenna"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jenna"
"Jenna" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4426th of 16616 | 173 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 10143rd of 24088 | 83 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4339th of 9107 | 77 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2335th of 9204 | 247 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1873rd of 12526 | 617 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 533rd of 19264 | 5,653 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 74th of 27321 | 67,048 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 76th of 35406 | 65,219 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 408th of 30306 | 9,302 |
Regional Popularity of "Jenna" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
60.06% 3794th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
49.49% 3619th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Jenna" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
81.68% 1922nd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
87.20% 1942nd/2227 |
- |
62.60% 1786th/2853 |
71.24% 1977th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
15.97% 469th/2937 |
13.21% 460th/3483 |
21.57% 759th/3518 |
11.87% 480th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
1.63% 60th/3685 |
1.34% 60th/4475 |
2.06% 107th/5194 |
1.52% 96th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.05% 48th/4582 |
0.99% 51st/5164 |
1.38% 101st/7313 |
1.58% 118th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.08% 322nd/3984 |
8.00% 359th/4487 |
6.80% 464th/6822 |
7.97% 500th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jenna"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jenna" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.