Lena Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lena is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lena?
Lena is spelled L-E-N-A. The name has 4 letters.
Lena at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Lena is commonly considered a short form of names ending with “-lena,” which may derive from the Greek name Helena meaning “torch” or “light.”
- Origin
- Lena is often used as an independent given name and as a diminutive form of names like Helena or Magdalena in various European languages.
- Pronunciation
- LEE-nah · 2 syllables
Lena Popularity in 2025
Rank#279
Recorded Births1,106
- Girls usage fell 17 places to #279 and recorded 112 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Lena Mean?
Lena is commonly considered a short form of names ending with “-lena,” which may derive from the Greek name Helena meaning “torch” or “light.”
Origin: Lena is often used as an independent given name and as a diminutive form of names like Helena or Magdalena in various European languages.
How Do You Pronounce Lena?
PronunciationLEE-nah
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Lena?
- History
- The use of Lena as a short form of Helena or similar names has been documented across different cultures, with adoption as a standalone name becoming more common in recent centuries.
Lena Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,106 | #279 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,218 | #262 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,157 | #270 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,220 | #254 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,091 | #294 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,143 | #271 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,246 | #267 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,102 | #302 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,084 | #303 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,144 | #275 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,162 | #273 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,168 | #280 |
| 2013 | Girls | 982 | #331 |
| 2012 | Girls | 885 | #359 |
| 2011 | Girls | 901 | #360 |
| 2010 | Girls | 842 | #375 |
| 2009 | Girls | 768 | #415 |
| 2008 | Girls | 728 | #438 |
| 2007 | Girls | 716 | #448 |
| 2006 | Girls | 644 | #483 |
| 2005 | Girls | 654 | #466 |
| 2004 | Girls | 555 | #518 |
| 2003 | Girls | 568 | #503 |
| 2002 | Girls | 514 | #533 |
When Was Lena Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1917 · Girls
3,004 recorded births
National rank #85
1918 · Girls
2,937 recorded births
National rank #93
1915 · Girls
2,927 recorded births
National rank #77
1919 · Girls
2,872 recorded births
National rank #94
Where Lena Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| VT | #75 | 5 |
| DC | #119 | 6 |
| PA | #134 | 79 |
| MI | #137 | 61 |
| CT | #150 | 20 |
| MN | #159 | 34 |
| MT | #168 | 6 |
| NH | #174 | 7 |