Lena
The female name is from the Scandinavian, German and Russian pet form of Helena, Magdalena and Yelena (also spelled Elena).
Every Lena since 1880 — 146,805 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lena
Lena is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #279 in 2025 with 1,106 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 146,805 American babies have been named Lena. Its peak came in 1917, when 3,015 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lena stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lena year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,106 | #279 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1,218 | #262 | — | — |
| 2023 | 1,157 | #270 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1,220 | #254 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1,091 | #294 | — | — |
| 2020 | 1,143 | #271 | — | — |
| 2019 | 1,246 | #267 | — | — |
| 2018 | 1,102 | #302 | — | — |
| 2017 | 1,084 | #303 | — | — |
| 2016 | 1,144 | #275 | — | — |
| 2015 | 1,162 | #273 | — | — |
| 2014 | 1,168 | #280 | — | — |
| 2013 | 982 | #331 | — | — |
| 2012 | 885 | #359 | — | — |
| 2011 | 901 | #360 | — | — |
| 2010 | 842 | #376 | — | — |
| 2009 | 768 | #416 | — | — |
| 2008 | 728 | #440 | — | — |
| 2007 | 716 | #448 | — | — |
| 2006 | 644 | #483 | — | — |
| 2005 | 654 | #466 | — | — |
| 2004 | 555 | #518 | — | — |
| 2003 | 568 | #504 | — | — |
| 2002 | 514 | #534 | — | — |
| 2001 | 473 | #555 | — | — |
| 2000 | 477 | #546 | — | — |
| 1995 | 400 | #574 | — | — |
| 1990 | 453 | #525 | — | — |
| 1985 | 519 | #424 | — | — |
| 1980 | 499 | #434 | — | — |
| 1975 | 472 | #425 | 6 | #5,177 |
| 1970 | 507 | #435 | — | — |
| 1965 | 521 | #407 | — | — |
| 1960 | 520 | #429 | — | — |
| 1955 | 559 | #372 | — | — |
| 1950 | 634 | #309 | — | — |
| 1945 | 724 | #251 | — | — |
| 1940 | 797 | #216 | 10 | #2,416 |
| 1935 | 968 | #183 | 6 | #3,470 |
| 1930 | 1,489 | #144 | 12 | #2,379 |
| 1925 | 2,235 | #124 | 10 | #2,854 |
| 1920 | 2,785 | #98 | 8 | #3,372 |
| 1915 | 2,927 | #77 | 6 | #3,652 |
| 1910 | 1,431 | #66 | 5 | #1,741 |
| 1905 | 1,258 | #61 | — | — |
| 1900 | 1,506 | #52 | — | — |
| 1895 | 1,289 | #50 | — | — |
| 1890 | 1,137 | #47 | — | — |
| 1885 | 876 | #44 | — | — |
| 1880 | 603 | #43 | — | — |
Famous people named Lena
- Lena Headey Actor · b. 1973
- Lena Olin Actor · b. 1955
- Lena Endre Actor · b. 1955
- Lena Horne Actor · 1917–2010
- Lena Nyman Actor · 1944–2011
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lena mean?
The female name is from the Scandinavian, German and Russian pet form of Helena, Magdalena and Yelena (also spelled Elena).
How popular is the name Lena in 2025?
Lena ranked #279 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,106 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lena?
146,805 babies have been named Lena in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lena most popular?
Lena peaked in 1917, when 3,015 newborns received the name.
Is Lena a boy or girl name?
Lena is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Lena rising or falling?
Lena is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Lena?
Well-known people named Lena include Lena Headey (actor), Lena Olin (actor), Lena Endre (actor).