Malena
How to say it: muh-LAY-nuh · /məˈleɪnə/
Spanish form of Magdalena meaning 'from Magdala' - melodic classic used in Europe and Latin America.
Malena was the 1,714th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 81 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 18% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,732 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 | #1,714 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 81 |
| Share of births | 1 in 40,930 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −18% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,732 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,126 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Malena peaked in the 2000s.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Lena
- Mal
- Mena
Honouring a Malena in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Malena is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #1,126 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Malena
- Malena Alterio (born 1974)Italian-Argentine-Spanish actress
- Malena Josephsen (born 1977)Danish footballer
- Malena Mård (born 1969)Swedish diplomat
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Malena is the title character of Tornatore's 2000 film starring Monica Bellucci; the name carries a sensualized-cinema echo in Italy and art
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