The nameLena
Lena is a girl's name, a short form of Helena or Magdalena. It is popular in Germany, Austria and Scandinavia.
- Girl's name
- German and Scandinavian
- Feast day
Meaning
Lena is a short form of Helena, linked to the Greek, and of Magdalena, "from Magdala".
Origin
German and Scandinavian. Lena became a name in its own right in the 19th century.
History
Lena has been among the leading names in Germany and Austria. It reached the American top 50. Lena Horne and Lena Dunham are famous bearers.
Lena in other languages
Léna is the French spelling of Lena, used in German, Italian, the Nordic countries and Russian. It began as a short form of Helena or Magdalena.
Did you know?
- Lena Meyer-Landrut won the Eurovision Song Contest for Germany in 2010 with Satellite.
- Lena Headey played Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones.
Famous people named Lena
- Lena Horne, singer
- Lena Dunham, writer and actress
- Lena Headey, actress
- Lena Meyer-Landrut, singer
Popularity of the name Lena
Lena in the United States
Lena was most popular in the United States in the 1910s, with 23,693 births over the decade, 16% of all recorded babies named Lena. Half of all babies named Lena in the United States were born before 1925, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 1,164 births a year.
Lena in the United Kingdom
Lena was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 4,267 births over the decade, 65% of all recorded babies named Lena. Its rise began around 2001, and it peaked in 2014. Half of all babies named Lena in the United Kingdom were born before 2015, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 216 births a year on average, against 383 in the five years before.
Lena in Ireland
Lena in France
Lena in Belgium
Lena in Switzerland
Lena in Austria
Lena in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Lena
Names from the same generation as Lena, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Lena? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Lena with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Lena side by side with the name of your choice.
Lena in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lena mean?
Lena is a short form of Helena, linked to the Greek, and of Magdalena, "from Magdala".
What is the origin of the name Lena?
German and Scandinavian. Lena became a name in its own right in the 19th century.
Is Lena a girl's or a boy's name?
Lena is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Lena?
In 2024, Lena was the 263rd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 1,211 births.
What are the variants of the name Lena?
Variants and related names of Lena include Elena, Helena, Helene and Leyna.
What are good sibling names for Lena?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Annalise, Jane, Genevieve and Noelle for a sister, Ibrahim, Romeo, Orion and Walter for a brother.
Who are famous people named Lena?
Lena Horne, singer; Lena Dunham, writer and actress; Lena Headey, actress; Lena Meyer-Landrut, singer.