Lena
Lena is a feminine given name, a short form of Helena (Ἑλένη), meaning 'torch' or 'shining light'. It may be a given name by itself or a diminutive of Helena and variants, such as Elena.
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- German
Meaning & Origin of Lena
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Lena is a feminine given name, a short form of Helena (Ἑλένη), meaning 'torch' or 'shining light'. It may be a given name by itself or a diminutive of Helena and variants, such as Elena.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- German
- Dutch
- Polish
- Finnish
- Russian
- Ukrainian
- Macedonian
- English
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Greek
- Georgian
- Armenian
- French
- Hungarian
The Story of Lena
The earliest SSA record of Lena as a baby girl name dates back to 1880, when 603 babies received it. 1917 was its biggest year on record, with 3,004 newborns named Lena — #85 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #263 among baby girl names with 1,225 births, gradually rising (+6%). In total, more than 148K Lenas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Lena
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Lena. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Alena
- Aliona
- Alyona
- Alyonka
- Elaina
- Elaine
- Elen
- Elena
- Elene
- Eleni
- Eliina
- Elin
- Elina
- Eline
- Ella
- Ellen
- Ellena
- Elna
- Heghine
- Heleen
- Heleena
- Helén
- Helen
- Helena
- Helene
- Helenka
- Heli
- Hella
- Helle
- Hellen
- Ilona
- Jelena
- Leena
- Leni
- Linn
- Madalyn
- Maddalena
- Madelaine
- Madeleine
- Madelen
- Madelina
- Madeline
- Madelyn
- Madelynn
- Madilyn
- Madilynn
- Madlyn
- Madoline
- Magda
- Magdalen
- Magdalena
- Magdalene
- Magdalini
- Malena
- Malene
- Malin
- Olena
- Yelena
Notable people named Lena
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Lena (actress) , Malayalam film actress
- Lena Ackebo (born 1950), Swedish comic creator
- Lena Adler (1941–2023), Swedish gymnast
- Lena Adomat (born 1964), Swedish gymnast
- Lena Åkesson (born 1967), Swedish boxer
- Lena Alexander (1899–1983), Scottish painter
- Lena Alhusseini , American activist
- Lena Amsel (1898–1929), German dancer and actress
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Lena
Phonetically similar names — useful when Lena is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lena
What does the name Lena mean?
What is the origin of the name Lena?
How popular is Lena in 2026?
When was Lena most popular?
In which U.S. states is Lena most popular?
Is Lena a unisex name?
What names go well with Lena?
What are nicknames or variants of Lena?
About the name Lena
Lena is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 148K births in the dataset. Lena's peak popularity came in 1917 when it ranked #41. Use the chart and map above to compare Lena's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1917 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.