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    The first name Lena

    A girl’s name from Greek meaning “the large river”, “clay”.

    Pronounced /ˈlɛ.nə/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    Lena means “the large river”, “clay” in Greek.

    The female name is from the Scandinavian, German and Russian pet form of Helena, Magdalena and Yelena (also spelled Elena). The river in Yakutia is from Russian Лена (Lena), from Evenki Елюенэ (Jeljujenə, “the Large River”). Compare to Yakut Өлүөнэ (Ölüöne). (Norwegian river): Probably related to Old Norse leir (“clay”) (see the references). (Town in Toten): From Old Norse lein.

    More names that mean river.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 158 girls were named Lena, making it the 288th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2013, with 427 births (#128).

    0250500 1996200020052010201520202025
    5,796
    babies named Lena, 1996–2025
    #288
    rank in 2025
    2013
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lena with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Lena at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 1,106 girls born in the United States were named Lena, the 279th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1917, when 3,004 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    146,805
    babies named Lena since 1880
    #279
    rank in 2025
    1917
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Lena in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Lene
    Danish
    Leena
    Finnish
    Léna
    Hungarian
    Ле́на
    Léna
    Russian, also Еле́на

    Spelled Lena in Polish too.

    Famous people named Lena

    43 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Lena Headey
      British actress (born 1973)
    • Lena Horne
      American singer, actress, dancer and activist (1917–2010)
    • Lena Dunham
      American writer, director, actress, and producer (born 1986)
    • Lena Oberdorf
      Association football player (2001-)
    • Lena Goeßling
      German association football player, born 1986
    • Lena Waithe
      American actress, producer, and screenwriter (born 1984)
    • Lena Raine
      American composer and producer (born 1984)
    • Lena Stojković
      Croatian taekwondo practitioner, born 2002
    • Lena Dürr
      German alpine skier, born 1991
    • Lena Gercke
      German model, born 1988
    • Lena Schöneborn
      German modern pentathlete, born 1986
    • Lena Petermann
      German footballer, born 1994

    More Greek girls’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Lena mean?
    Lena means “the large river”, “clay” in Greek.
    What is the origin of the name Lena?
    The female name is from the Scandinavian, German and Russian pet form of Helena, Magdalena and Yelena (also spelled Elena). The river in Yakutia is from Russian Лена (Lena), from Evenki Елюенэ (Jeljujenə, “the Large River”). Compare to Yakut Өлүөнэ (Ölüöne). (Norwegian river): Probably related to…
    How popular is the name Lena?
    In 2025, 158 girls born in England and Wales were named Lena, ranking 288th. Its peak was 2013, with 427 births.
    Is Lena a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 146,805 US babies named Lena since 1880 were girls.
    When was Lena most popular?
    1917 in the United States, when 3,004 babies were named Lena, its highest rank at 85th.
    How do you pronounce Lena?
    Lena is /ˈlɛ.nə/, 2 syllables.