Baby Name Popularity Profile

Lena

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Lena.

✦ Light 🌍 Greek, German, Slavic traditional
National Rank (2025) #279
All-Time Peak Rank #41 Achieved 1884
Total U.S. Births 146,479 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1910s 3,004 births in 1917
💡 The Lena Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Light
Language Origin Greek, German, Slavic
Origin Type multiple
Derived as a short form of names such as Helena (Greek, meaning 'torch' or 'bright, shining light') and Magdalena (Hebrew, meaning 'from Magdala'). It is also used independently in various European languages.
Common Nicknames
Len Lenny
Alternative Spellings
Lina Lene
Pronunciation: LEE-nuh
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: Medium · Under review

📖 The Story Behind Lena

According to SSA data, Lena achieved its highest historical rank of #41 in 1884. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1917 with 3,004 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 4.8%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Lena across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -4.8% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 3,004 births in 1917
Years in Top 100 41 yrs
Years in Top 500 128 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 8,691
1890s: 12,491
1900s: 12,703
1910s: 23,624
1920s: 22,844
1930s: 10,539
1940s: 7,367
1950s: 5,732
1960s: 5,193
1970s: 4,680
1980s: 4,583
1990s: 4,484
2000s: 6,097
2010s: 10,516
2020s: 6,935

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Le-na
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with L, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Lena.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Mississippi
Top States Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Mississippi Unranked 2,951 1919 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #343 2,043 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #651 3,859 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #253 3,672 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #620 2,133 1916 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #339 5,117 1925 10.8% Decline
Oklahoma #424 2,343 1922 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #356 3,646 1917 14.8% Decline
Alabama #194 3,124 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #198 3,619 1918 +23.5% Growth
New Mexico Unranked 793 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #634 3,838 1919 37.0% Decline
Missouri #339 3,046 1916 37.9% Decline
South Carolina #547 1,920 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #153 1,416 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #135 6,894 1918 +12.9% Growth
New York #234 9,663 1916 2.6% Decline
Massachusetts #185 2,986 1915 +7.1% Growth
Vermont #85 199 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 415 1917 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #217 3,066 1921 +15.2% Growth
Colorado #329 1,210 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #274 1,045 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #247 1,453 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #240 421 1915 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #224 317 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #436 1,135 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #460 6,939 1916 +58.7% Growth
New Hampshire #194 285 1915 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #200 4,434 1915 9.1% Decline
Ohio #203 4,095 1917 1.8% Decline
Michigan #137 3,244 1920 +19.6% Growth
Alaska Unranked 115 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #339 1,910 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #379 1,265 2013 48.6% Decline
Florida #310 2,602 2021 +36.4% Growth
California #376 6,499 2020 19.3% Decline
Oregon #524 558 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #210 791 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #369 422 1915 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #256 180 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #427 394 2020 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #134 214 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #190 140 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #260 864 2023 36.4% Decline
Delaware Unranked 86 1924 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #159 771 2020 20.9% Decline
Hawaii Unranked 120 1976 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #474 127 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 147 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 38 1910 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Walter Emil Omer Arno Myer Cleo Ivor Roma Alma Alva
👧 Sister Suggestions
Vera Mabel Ada Hattie Frances Anna Opal Alma Edna Olga

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