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.
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 →
The Story of Lena
Lena first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 603 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1917, when 3,004 Lenas were born — ranking #85 that year. As of 2026, Lena ranks #263 for baby girls 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
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?
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In which U.S. states is Lena most popular?
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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.