Lena Name Meaning & Origin
Lena
Origin of the name Lena:
A short form of Magdalena (of Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee).
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Lena Over Time

Sister & Brother Names
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Name Lists Featuring Lena
- Austrian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Austria
- Belgian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Belgium (Flanders) 2014
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland 2014
- German Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Germany 2014
- Polish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Poland 2014
- Swiss Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Switzerland (German)
- French Girls Names: Most Popular Girls Names in France 2014
- Hungarian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Hungary 2014
- Austrian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Austria, 2010
- Belgian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Belgium, 2008
- French Girls Names: Most Popular Girls Names in France, 2010
- German Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Germany, 2010
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland, 2010
- Polish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Poland, 2010
- Swiss Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Switzerland (German), 2010
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland for 2012
- Belgian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Belgium (Flanders) 2012
- French Girls Names: Most Popular Girls Names in France 2012
- Swiss Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Switzerland (German) 2012
- Swiss Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Switzerland (Italian) 2012
- Austrian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Austria 2012
- Hungarian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Hungary 2010
- Polish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Poland 2012
- French Girls Names: Most Popular Girls Names in France
- German Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Germany
- Dutch Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in The Netherlands
- Irish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in the Republic of Ireland
- Polish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Poland
- Hungarian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Hungary
- Swiss Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Switzerland
Contribute your knowledge to the name Lena
- Comments and insights on the name Lena
Prounounced LEH-na or LEE-na, this is a very popular and trendy name in Poland, also Germany. At no 9 in 2009. (In 2008 it was not not even in the top 20) Very rare in the 20th c.
Anel, Elan, Elna Lane, Lena and Neal are anagrams of each other; they contain the same letters.
- Personal experiences with the name Lena
A cool name
This is my name and I absolutely love it!! I haven't ran across too many younger people with my name... they all tend to be 50+, but I don't mind.
My name is pronounced Lay-na, but people always say Lee-na or Leh-na
- Nicknames for Lena
Lena is already a nickname in itself, since it is a short name for Elena, Yelena, Magdalena...but if you insist on a nickname, then these are the most appropriate - Lee, Len, Lenka, Lenny, Lenno. My daughter is named Lena but we called her Leni
Could also be a nickname for Evangeline or Helena
- Meanings and history of the name Lena
Elena is a Greek name, in English speaking countries known as Helena, Helena of Troy, which means exactly the same thing - light and shine. Short name is Lena - does not really have a meaning unless it is used in its full form.
Lena is a Greek girls name that can mean `alluring, temptress, light `.
Lena is Russian. This is the name of the Siberian river in Russia. Very popular in Serbia also.
- Famous real-life people named Lena
-Lena Dunham (producer/actress) most known for the HBO series "Girls" and the indie-movie Tiny Furniture.
-Lena Headey (actress) most known for her roles as Cersei Lannister in HBO's adaption of The Game of Thrones. Also starred as Queen Gorgo in the movie "300" and Sarah Connor in "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" TV show spin-off of the "Terminator" movie saga. She's also known for her role in "The Brother's Grimm" alongside Heath Ledger and Matt Damon as well the live action version of "The Jungle Book".
-Lena Olin (actress)
-Lena Horne, jazz singer
-Lena Meyer-Landrut, pop singer (German), winner of the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest (2010).
-Lena Katina, Russian singer
-Lena Elizabeth Tindall,Queen Elizabeth’s great-granddaughter
-Lena Mantler, German social media star- Lena in song, story & screen
"Lena", star of the ever popular genre of "Ole and Lena jokes" often told by Scandinavian-Americans and immortalized on the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion."
Lena Kaligaris, character in the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" book series and movies. She is quiet and even tempered, has a Greek heritage, and loves to draw.
Aunt Lena, resilient immigrant character in the "All of a Kind Family" children's book series by Sydney Taylor.
"All For Leyna", song by Billy Joel
Lena Duchannes, one of the two main protagonists in the "Caster Chronicles" book series and movies.
Lena Luthor, character in the TV show "Supergirl"