Lena is a name of German origin that has gained popularity worldwide over the years. It is derived from the Germanic word "lina," which means "torch" or "light." The name Lena was traditionally given to girls who were born during the night, as it was believed that they brought light into the darkness.
The name Lena has a rich history in literature and popular culture. In Russian literature, Lena is often associated with the heroine of Anton Chekhov's short story "Lady with Lapdog," which tells the tale of a passionate love affair between a young woman named Anna and an older man named Gurov. The character of Lena also appears in other works by Russian authors, such as Ivan Turgenev's novel "A Sportsman's Sketches."
In popular culture, Lena has been used as a name for characters in various movies, TV shows, and books. Some notable examples include the character of Lena Kaligari in the 1920 German Expressionist film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," and the character of Lena Baker in the American crime drama television series "Justified."
Overall, the name Lena has a strong connection to its Germanic roots and has been used throughout history and across different cultures to denote strength, light, and intelligence.
The statistics show a fluctuating trend in the number of girls named Lena born annually over this period. The name's popularity peaked around 1915 with 2927 births, marking a significant increase from previous years and indicating that Lena was one of the top girl names during that time. However, after reaching its zenith, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, the number of annual Lena births had dropped significantly, with fewer than 800 births per year recorded between 1937 and 1945.
The downward trend continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with fewer than 600 Lena births reported annually during these decades. Despite some fluctuations in popularity, the number of girls named Lena remained relatively low throughout most of the late 20th century, with annual birth figures typically ranging between 300 to 500.
However, there was a notable resurgence in the name's popularity starting around 2002. Since then, the number of annual Lena births has seen an uptick, with over 1000 births reported each year from 2007 onwards. The most recent data shows that in 2022, there were 1245 girls named Lena born in the United States, indicating that the name has regained some of its former popularity and continues to be a favored choice among parents today.