Serena
Girl name · #325 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Serena? In official American birth records, Serena has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 942 baby girls were named Serena, placing it at #325 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #410, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,911 girls born in 2025 was named Serena.
The 145-year story
Serena first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 1,504 girls were named Serena — good for #209 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Serena per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Serena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Serena in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Serena 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 Serena is most common
Geography matters for names, and Serena is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Serena is most common in NJ (1.5 per 1,000), NV (1.2 per 1,000), CT (1.1 per 1,000), NY (1 per 1,000), FL (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Serena is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Serena
Statistically, parents drawn to Serena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Selena, Sabrina, Helena, Adriana, and Carolina.
SelenaSabrinaHelenaAdrianaCarolinaMagdalenaHannaMckenna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Serena | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 942 | #325 |
| 2024 | 942 | #331 |
| 2023 | 821 | #375 |
| 2022 | 814 | #386 |
| 2021 | 810 | #386 |
| 2020 | 725 | #421 |
| 2019 | 748 | #424 |
| 2018 | 780 | #392 |
| 2017 | 768 | #413 |
| 2016 | 720 | #448 |
| 2015 | 782 | #410 |
| 2014 | 704 | #456 |
| 2013 | 744 | #409 |
| 2012 | 716 | #436 |
| 2011 | 682 | #448 |
| 2010 | 687 | #447 |
| 2009 | 813 | #391 |
| 2008 | 882 | #374 |
| 2007 | 814 | #403 |
| 2006 | 810 | #396 |
| 2005 | 869 | #361 |
| 2004 | 1,063 | #301 |
| 2003 | 1,277 | #255 |
| 2002 | 1,306 | #244 |
| 2001 | 1,296 | #246 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Serena?
In official American birth records, the name Serena first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Serena a popular girl name?
Serena ranked #325 among girls in 2025 with 942 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #410.
When was the name Serena most popular?
Serena peaked in 2000, when 1,504 American girls received the name (ranked #209 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Serena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,911 newborn American girls was named Serena. 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.