Lena

Q: What is the origin of Lena?

Lena is of Greek origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Lena?

According to the latest SSA data, Lena is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Lena a boy name?

Lena is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Light or Torch"

Lena functions as a shortened form of several names, often associated with Helen and the idea of light.

Themes:shortformheleninternationallight

Vintage Retro Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Lena

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Lena did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Lena Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Lena.

10 ideas

leny

Nickname

lena

Nickname

llie

Nickname

lie

Nickname

lenaie

Nickname

lenay

Nickname

lenao

Nickname

Similar Names to Lena

male

Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

#68

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

#27

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Arthur

AR-ther

“Bear Man”

#105

|Celtic

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Albert

AL-bert

“Noble Bright”

#606

|Germanic

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Alex

“Defender”

#205

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Angel

“Messenger”

#63

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Alvin

“Noble Friend”

#791

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Alejandro

“Defender of Men”

#184

|Spanish

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Andre

“Manly”

#350

|French

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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

#1681

|Germanic

Baby Name Lists That Include Lena

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Lena, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

22 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Lena mean?

Lena means "Light or Torch". Lena functions as a shortened form of several names, often associated with Helen and the idea of light.

What is the origin of Lena?

Lena is of Greek origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Lena?

According to the latest SSA data, Lena is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Lena a boy name?

Lena is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Lena?

Popular nicknames for Lena include leny, lena, le, ly, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Lena?

There are many names similar to Lena in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGreek, Slavic, Germanic

Syllables2

Length4 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withL

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Andreas Alexzander Alexandro Andrea Alexandre

Sisters

Agnes Angeline Asia Angelia Alexus

Explore More Boy Names Like Lena

Lena has Greek roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Greek baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Lena appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Light and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Vintage Baby Names and Classic Greek Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Lena pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Lena beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.