How to say it
LE · na
/ˈliː.nə/
Feminine
Lena
Light, or short for Helena
What it means
A short form of Helena, Magdalena, or Elena that long ago became a name in its own right.
Lena started as the tail end of longer names, mainly Helena (from a Greek root tied to light), Magdalena, and Elena, before settling in as an independent name across Europe and beyond. It is warm, short, and travels easily between languages. You will hear LEE-nuh in the US and LAY-nuh in much of Europe. Lena Horne and Lena Headey anchor its two moods, classic glamour and modern edge.
Popularity over time
peaked at #41 in 1884, currently #279 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
LEE-nuh dominates in the US; LAY-nuh is common in German, Scandinavian, and Slavic use.
- Nickname
Works as a standalone or as the short for Helena, Elena, Magdalena, or Adelena.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Lena Horne American singer, actress, and civil-rights activist
- Lena Headey English actress, Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones
Spelling variants
- Lina
- Leyna
- Lenna
Names with the same feeling
See Lena from another angle
By meaning
By style