Jena
Jena is a girl's name of Arabic origin.
Meaning
Paradise or heaven (Arabic); small bird or endurance (Hebrew/Germanic variants).
Origin and history
Jena is a feminine name with multiple origins, most notably as an Arabic name meaning 'paradise' or 'heaven' (related to Jannat), or as a modern variant of the English name Jennifer or the German city name Jena. In the United States, it enjoyed peak popularity during the late 20th century as an alternative to similar-sounding names like Jenna and Gina. It remains a recognizable, modest choice for parents looking for a simple, two-syllable name.
Popularity in the United States
13,241 babies in the United States have been named Jena since 1880. It ranks #1387 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1948.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.1 %)
- TX (9.2 %)
- PA (7.1 %)
- NY (6.2 %)
- OH (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 6 |
| 1920-1930 | 39 |
| 1930-1940 | 31 |
| 1940-1950 | 96 |
| 1950-1960 | 378 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,069 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,753 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,075 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,301 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,772 |
| 2010-2019 | 563 |
| 2020-2029 | 153 |
Famous people named Jena
- Jena Malone: Actress, Musician
- Jena Lee: Singer, Songwriter
- Jena Sims: Actress, Model
Fun facts
- Jena functions both as a standalone Arabic name and as a contemporary English phonetic variation of names like Jenna or Jennifer.
- Jena is also the name of a famous university city in Thuringia, Germany.