Lena
Girl name · #279 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Lena? In official American birth records, Lena has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Lena ranks #279 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 1,106 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #273, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,627 girls born in 2025 was named Lena.
The 145-year story
Lena first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 603 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1917, when 3,004 girls were named Lena — good for #85 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Lena per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lena in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lena is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Lena is most common
Geography matters for names, and Lena is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Lena is most common in CT (1.7 per 1,000), MI (1.7 per 1,000), PA (1.7 per 1,000), MN (1.6 per 1,000), IA (1.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Lena is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Lena
Statistically, parents drawn to Lena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Leona, Lola, Vera, Ada, and Alma.
LeonaLolaVeraAdaAlmaEvaLucilleCecelia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lena | 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 | #375 |
| 2009 | 768 | #415 |
| 2008 | 728 | #438 |
| 2007 | 716 | #448 |
| 2006 | 644 | #483 |
| 2005 | 654 | #466 |
| 2004 | 555 | #518 |
| 2003 | 568 | #503 |
| 2002 | 514 | #533 |
| 2001 | 473 | #555 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Lena?
In official American birth records, the name Lena first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 603 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Lena a popular girl name?
Lena ranked #279 among girls in 2025 with 1,106 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #273.
When was the name Lena most popular?
Lena peaked in 1917, when 3,004 American girls received the name (ranked #85 that year). Since 1917 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,627 newborn American girls was named Lena. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.