Girl name
Lena name meaning
“Light, brightness”
Lena means “light” or “brightness” in its traditional interpretation. It is used for girls in Türkiye and appears in European languages as a short form of Helena or Elena, from Greek Helenē. The traditional image of a torch connects the name with illumination.
- Gender
- ♀ Girl
- Origin
- Greek
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Lena mean?
Light, brightness
In Turkish: Işık, parlaklık
Lena is a short feminine name that became independent in several European naming traditions and is also used in Turkish. Its connection with Helena brings brightness and light to the foreground. A connection with Magdalena leads to a different historical root, so its associations can vary according to the longer name behind it.
The ending “-na” is a common final sound in names such as Lina, Mina and Alina, not a suffix with one shared meaning. Each name has to be considered individually. More girl names ending in -na →
How popular is Lena?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 7provinces
Where is Lena in the top 30?
7 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Origin of the name Lena
Lena is used in European languages as a short form of Helena or Elena. Greek Helenē is traditionally associated with light or a torch, although its ultimate etymology is disputed; when shortened from Magdalena, Lena instead connects with ‘from Magdala.’
| Linguistic origin | Greek, European languages |
|---|---|
| Is Lena in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | L · Le |
Double names with Lena
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Lena Hayal
Meaning of each name
- Lena: Light, brightness
- Hayal: a mental image; dream or imagined possibility
-
Zeren Lena
Meaning of each name
- Zeren: gazelle, an antelope of the steppe
- Lena: Light, brightness
-
Lena Rahşan
Meaning of each name
- Lena: Light, brightness
- Rahşan: radiant, bright, and luminous
-
Hasibe Lena
Meaning of each name
- Hasibe: of respected lineage, well-born
- Lena: Light, brightness
-
Lena Mihrimah
Meaning of each name
- Lena: Light, brightness
- Mihrimah: the sun and the moon
-
Mila Lena
Meaning of each name
- Mila: dear, beloved, lovely
- Lena: Light, brightness
How to pronounce Lena
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /lena/ |
Is Lena a girl’s name?
Yes, Lena is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Lena appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Lena
Names with related meanings
- Güneş♀The sun
- Zehra♀Radiant woman
- Hiranur♀A combination of Hira and light
- Nisanur♀Light of women
- Aysel♀Moon-bright
- Aynur♀Moonlight
- Beyza♀White, fair and bright
- İkranur♀A name combining the command 'read' with light
- Parla♀Shine
- Elanur♀Compound evoking hazel colour and light
- Esmanur♀A combination of Esma and light
- Aylin♀A halo of light around the moon
Famous people named Lena
- Lena Erdil · b. 1989
- Lena Saniye Güngör · b. 1993
- Lena Verneuer-Emre
FAQ about the name Lena
What is the meaning of Lena?
Lena means “Light, brightness”. Lena is used in European languages as a short form of Helena or Elena. Greek Helenē is traditionally associated with light or a torch, although its ultimate etymology is disputed; when shortened from Magdalena, Lena instead connects with ‘from Magdala.’
Is Lena a girl’s name?
Yes, Lena is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Lena in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Lena nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Lena?
Lena is of Greek and European languages origin.
How many syllables does Lena have?
Lena has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Lena?
Lena appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Lena?
Some ideas: Lena Hayal; Zeren Lena; Lena Rahşan.
Famous people named Lena?
Notable people named Lena include Lena Erdil, Lena Saniye Güngör, Lena Verneuer-Emre.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm01060 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake