Daena

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAY-nuh /ˈdeɪ.nə/Medium

Meaning: From the Avestan daena — 'religion; conscience; the inner self or insight' — a concept at the heart of Zoroastrian belief, which we note respectfully. In modern American use it also reads as a spelling of Dana or Dayna, and it names a character in Planet of the Apes.Low

In 30 seconds: An Avestan name of depth: Daena means 'religion; insight; the inner self' (said 'DAY-nuh'). We note the Zoroastrian root respectfully.

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Origin LowAvestan, Persian

MeaningFrom the Avestan daena — 'religion; conscience; the inner self or insight' — a concept at the heart of Zoroastrian belief, which we note respectfully. In modern American use it also reads as a spelling of Dana or Dayna, and it names a character in Planet of the Apes.

U.S. rank (2024)#13818 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 638

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

Daena comes from the Avestan daena, meaning 'religion; conscience; insight' — in Zoroastrian thought, a person's inner self, which we note with respect. In modern American use the name also reads simply as a spelling of Dana or Dayna, and a Daena appears in Planet of the Apes. Deep-rooted and unusual (said 'DAY-nuh').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely. Rare, philosophical, and heritage-rooted.

Did you know? In Zoroastrian belief, the daena is a person's inner self and conscience — said to meet the soul after death in the form it has earned; we note the tradition respectfully (said 'DAY-nuh').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Daena — Avestan daena, Zoroastrian concept; also Dana spelling; Planet of the Apes character

Variations

DenaDaynaDana

Nicknames

DaeNina

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Daena…

Dana— the familiar name Daena echoes

Dayna— a like two-beat spelling cousin

Deena— a like soft D- name

Anahita— a like Persian heritage pick

Explore names like Daena

By themeuncertain heritage persian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Daena mean?

Daena is Avestan for 'religion; conscience; the inner self,' a Zoroastrian concept. In American use it also reads as a form of Dana.

How do you pronounce Daena?

It's said DAY-nuh /ˈdeɪ.nə/ — two syllables, stress on the first. Some families say 'DY-nuh.'

Is Daena a boy or girl name?

Daena is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Daena?

Daena is very rare in the U.S.