Lena
A girls’ name of Greek origin, meaning bright light; short form of Helena.
How Lena has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #273 |
| 2016 | #275 |
| 2017 | #303 |
| 2018 | #302 |
| 2019 | #267 |
| 2020 | #271 |
| 2021 | #294 |
| 2022 | #251 |
| 2023 | #271 |
| 2024 | #263 |
| 2025 | #279 |
Lena by the numbers
In 2025, 158 babies in England and Wales were named Lena. In the US, 1,072 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 3,004 babies in 1917, making it a 1910s name.
At its height, in 1880, about 1 in 160 American girls born that year was called Lena.
Other names that come from Helena
Like Lena, each of these traces back to Helena: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Lena. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Lunamoon5,327 in the US (2017)
- Leiaweary; a form of leah1,151 in the US (2017)
- Lanabright or fair; a form of Helen or Alana185 in England and Wales (2025)
- Leonalioness; feminine form of Leo555 in the US (2017)
- Linalight; short form of Helena or other names200 in England and Wales (2025)
- Leaweary; form of Leah63 in England and Wales (2025)
Sounds like Lena
Names that are said the same way as Lena, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Leannameadow; a form of Lea or Leanne378 in the US (2017)
- Leenahospitable; a form of Lena80 in England and Wales (2025)
- Leanameadow; a form of Leanne or Lea73 in the US (2017)
- Lennabright light; short form of Helena or variant of Leona57 in the US (2017)
- Leeannameadow grace; a form of Leanna and Ann combined47 in the US (2017)
- Leinalei garland; flower wreath20 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean light
Like Lena, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Lena
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