Lena
LAY-nuh /ˈleɪ.nə/
Meaning of Lena
Lena is a short form used across northern Europe for Helena (Greek 'light, torch') and Magdalena (from Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee). In Germany it has been independently popular since the 19th century and has held the #1 spot for girls for multiple years in the 21st century. Eurovision winner Lena Meyer-Landrut (Germany, 2010) boosted international visibility.
How to pronounce Lena
In German: LAY-na (same stress and vowel as English, though slightly sharper).
Current popularity of Lena
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (GfdS) | 2024 | #1 |
| NO | 2024 | #4 |
| SE | 2024 | #12 |
Notable bearers of Lena
Lena Meyer-Landrut (singer, Eurovision winner 2010); Lena Headey (actor); Lena Dunham (director/actor).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Lena — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31