Lena Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Lena originates from the Greek name 'Helena', meaning 'light' or 'torch'. It evolved through historical forms such as Helena and Elena before becoming widely used as Lena. The name embodies traits of elegance and warmth, with no direct biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the late 19th century and continues to be a favored name today.
The name Lena is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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 relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Lena has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Lena' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2574th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3072nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6287th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8999th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 91st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 191st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 377th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 439th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 516th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 475th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 286th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Lena' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Lena"
Pronunciation
/ˈliː.nə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
Lena is derived from the Greek name 'Helena', which means 'light' or 'torch'. It can also be a diminutive form of names like Helena or Magdalena.
Meaning
light, torch
Language Evolution
Helena (Ancient Greek), Elena (Latin), Lena (Modern usage)
Historical Usage
Lena gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in various cultures, particularly in Europe and North America, often as a standalone name or short form of longer names.
Variants & Derivatives
Helena, Elena, Leni, Lenka
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Lena is viewed as a simple, elegant name that conveys warmth and beauty. It is popular in many countries and is often associated with creativity and strong character.
Famous People
Lena Headey, English actress, Lena Dunham, American writer and actress, Lena Horne, American singer and actress
Explore More Lena Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Lena"
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 "Lena"
"Lena" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2574th of 7545 | 162 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3072nd of 6773 | 112 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 6287th of 7552 | 13 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8999th of 10718 | 11 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 91st of 9107 | 54,236 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 191st of 9204 | 18,568 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 377th of 12526 | 11,199 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 439th of 19264 | 7,673 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 516th of 27321 | 7,161 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 475th of 35406 | 10,124 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 286th of 30306 | 13,707 |
Regional Popularity of "Lena" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Lena" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
9.53% 135th/1416 |
6.31% 87th/1379 |
3.34% 79th/2366 |
10.51% 120th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
17.40% 269th/1546 |
12.79% 199th/1556 |
6.20% 146th/2353 |
17.45% 270th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
21.46% 478th/2227 |
18.48% 449th/2430 |
9.85% 281st/2853 |
15.14% 420th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
15.59% 458th/2937 |
13.61% 474th/3483 |
11.88% 418th/3518 |
10.41% 421st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.22% 487th/3685 |
10.61% 475th/4475 |
10.84% 563rd/5194 |
8.18% 517th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.32% 427th/4582 |
6.91% 357th/5164 |
7.73% 565th/7313 |
7.07% 528th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
5.42% 216th/3984 |
4.26% 191st/4487 |
5.28% 360th/6822 |
5.88% 369th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Lena"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Lena" 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.