About the name Lena
The origin of Lena is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to German roots, with the meaning “Bright light (short for Helena or Magdalena)”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Lena we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a classic, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Lena ranked #279 for girls in the US, with 1,106 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2019. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Lena were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #279
- In 2015
- #273
- Babies in 2025
- 1,106
Popularity of Lena, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Lena
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Lena on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Lena. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Lena
Lena is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Lena
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.