Bena

♀ Girl

Pronounced BEE-nuh /ˈbiː.nə/Medium

Meaning: Two honest routes: in Hebrew, bina means 'understanding, wisdom,' and Bena is used as a related short name; separately, bine is an Ojibwe word for 'partridge' or 'pheasant,' recorded as a personal name. Which a family means varies.Low

In 30 seconds: A short name with two routes: Bena reads as Hebrew 'wise' and as an Ojibwe bird word (said 'BEE-nuh').

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowHebrew, Ojibwe

MeaningTwo honest routes: in Hebrew, bina means 'understanding, wisdom,' and Bena is used as a related short name; separately, bine is an Ojibwe word for 'partridge' or 'pheasant,' recorded as a personal name. Which a family means varies.

U.S. rank (2023)#9712 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births10 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 635

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Bena is a short name with two documented routes. In Hebrew, bina means 'understanding' or 'wisdom' - a valued quality-word - and Bena appears as a related short form. Separately, in Ojibwe the word bine names the partridge or pheasant, and it is recorded in name lists as a personal name. We give both routes plainly and note that which one applies depends on the family (said 'BEE-nuh').

It appears only in very small numbers in the U.S. Rare, short, and quietly distinctive.

Did you know? Bena points two ways - toward Hebrew bina, 'understanding,' and toward an Ojibwe word for the pheasant or partridge. Both are honest, and we give them both.

Overall data confidence 36%

References - Bena — Hebrew bina 'understanding'; Ojibwe bine 'partridge/pheasant'

Variations

BinaBeenaBinah

Nicknames

BenBeni

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bena…

Bina— the Hebrew 'understanding' form

Dena— a like short two-beat name

Nina— a like simple vowel-bright pick

Rena— a like -ena ending

Explore names like Bena

By themeuncertain hebrew short

By meaningWisdom Truth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bena mean?

Bena reads as Hebrew bina ('understanding, wisdom') and as an Ojibwe word for 'pheasant'; routes are uncertain.

How do you pronounce Bena?

It's said BEE-nuh /ˈbiː.nə/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bena a boy or girl name?

Bena is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Bena?

Bena is extremely rare in the U.S.