Lena
How to say it: LEE-nuh · /ˈlinə/
Short form of Helena or Magdalena; ultimately from Greek Helene, possibly meaning 'torch' or 'bright'.
Lena was the 246th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,106 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to rise to #244 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #246 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,106 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,313 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | +2% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #244 |
| In France, 2025 | #33 among girls’ names, 1,475 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Far removed from its 1880s high, Lena continues on well below that early summit. Renewed growth looks probable in the near term.
What goes with it
Gentle and flowing with a warm traveling ease, it feels soft throughout. Clara lives in that same tender space.
Middle names that flow with Lena →
Nicknames
- Len
- Leni
Honouring a Lena in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Lena is about 1 in 97.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish.
In France: #33 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #288. Ireland: #269.
Famous people named Lena
- Lena Meyer-Landrut (born 1991)German singer
- Lena Headey (born 1973)British actress
- Lena Dunham (born 1986)American writer, director, actress, and producer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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