Female Polish given name · rank 16 among female names (2024)
/ˈlɛ.na/ · LEH-nah
Lena began as a short form of longer names ending in -lena, such as Helena or Magdalena. Over time it became independent and today stands on its own as a full name, associated with lightness, warmth and modern simplicity.
The name derives from the ending of Helena (of Greek origin) and Magdalena (of biblical roots). Although it had long been known as a pet form across much of Europe, it spread in Poland as an independent name only in recent decades. Today it is one of the trendiest and most frequently chosen names for girls.
Lena has no etymology of its own — it inherits the meaning of the names from which it is drawn. Helena relates to a Greek root meaning "torch, brightness, light", while Magdalena points to the town of Magdala by the Sea of Galilee.
| Nominative | Lena |
| Genitive | Leny |
| Dative | Lenie |
| Accusative | Lenę |
| Instrumental | Leną |
| Locative | Lenie |
| Vocative | Leno |
In Poland, Lena celebrates its name day on 10 November.
Lenka, Lenusia, Leneczka, Lenuś.
Related and corresponding forms in other languages include Lena and Lene (German, Scandinavian), Léna (French, Hungarian), Leena (Finnish) and Lena across the East Slavic world.
For well over a decade Lena has ranked at the very top of names given to girls in Poland, repeatedly taking first place.