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.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Lena has seen a significant shift in popularity over time in the United States. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number of births with the name Lena fluctuated between around 600 to just under 3000 per year. The peak years for the name during this period were from 1914 to 1918, when it was given to over 2900 babies each year.
However, after reaching a high of nearly 3000 births in 1917, the popularity of the name Lena began to decline steadily. By the mid-1920s, the number of annual births with this name had dropped below 2500 and continued to fall throughout the rest of the century. The lowest point was reached in 1968, when only 462 babies were named Lena.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in popularity for the name Lena. After remaining relatively low from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, with annual births ranging between around 300 to 700, the number of babies named Lena began to rise again around 2005. By 2022, over 1200 babies were given the name Lena at birth, marking a significant increase from previous years.
In total, since records began in 1880 until 2023, there have been 144,123 births of girls named Lena in the United States. This demonstrates that while the popularity of the name has fluctuated over time, it remains a well-established choice for parents across generations.