Dena is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "judge". It is a variant spelling of the name Donna, which also shares the same root and meaning. In some cases, Dena may also be considered a short form of names like Denisa or Denisse. The name gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century but has since declined in usage. It is often associated with individuals born between 1940 and 1960.
The name Dena experienced a notable rise in popularity between 1964 and 1989, with a total of 56 babies named Dena born during this period. The most popular years for the name were 1971 and 1981, each seeing 10 and 8 births respectively.