Lena
/ˈliː.nə/noun
A feminine given name, often used as a short form of Helena, Magdalena, or related names.
Did you know?Lena is also the name of one of the world’s longest rivers, whose name may come from an Evenki phrase meaning “large river,” entirely separate from the European personal name.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἑλένη (Helénē)
“The personal name Helen; its ultimate meaning is disputed, though ancient and later traditions associated it with light or a torch.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἑλένη (helénē)
“A related Greek noun meaning “torch” is recorded, but scholars do not consider the connection to the personal name completely certain.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Helena
“The Latin form of the name Helen.”
Medieval Europe
Germanic and Romance languages
Helena, Elena
“Regional forms of the saint’s and classical name circulated across medieval Europe.”
Modern European languages
German, Slavic, English
Lena
“A shortened or familiar form of Helena, Elena, Magdalena, and related names.”
Modern English
English
Lena
“An established feminine given name, pronounced commonly as “LEE-nə.””