Names › Girls' names › L › Lena

Lena

Meaning: short form of Helena, Magdalena and others · Origin: several origins · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

Began as a short form of names ending in -lena and is now used on its own in many countries.

Famous people named Lena

Lena Horne (singer)
Lena Dunham (writer)

Nicknames

Leni

Variants & related names

Lina, Léna

Lena name art

A free preview of a printable “Lena” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Lena mean?

Lena means “short form of Helena, Magdalena and others”. It comes from several origins.

Is Lena a popular name?

Yes — Lena has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Lena?

Leni.

What are other forms of Lena?

Lina, Léna.

Similar names

Maya · Amara · Nina · Luna · Lily · Layla

More: names starting with L · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.