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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dena

Dena

♀ Girl

Pronounced DEE-nah /ˈdi.nɑ/Medium

Meaning: Spelling of Dinah ('judged, vindicated', Hebrew); also a short form of Dena/Geraldine, or 'from the valley'; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Soft and vintage: Dena spells Dinah — 'judged, vindicated' — or means 'from the valley'. Sweet, retro, and warm.
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Origin MediumHebrew, English
MeaningSpelling of Dinah ('judged, vindicated', Hebrew); also a short form of Dena/Geraldine, or 'from the valley'; routes layered
U.S. rank (2025)#4581 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births30 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 32,474

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197018802025

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

Dena is a spelling of Dinah — from Hebrew, 'judged, vindicated' (Jacob's daughter) — and also a short form of names like Geraldine or Dena, and an English 'from the valley' (routes layered, which we note). A soft, vintage name.

It registers thinly today. Rare, judged-or-valley at the root, and retro.

Did you know? Dinah means 'judged, vindicated' in Hebrew (a daughter of Jacob) — Dena is a soft spelling (also a short form of Geraldine, or 'from the valley'); sweet and retro (singer Dena DeRose).
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name — Dinah — routes layered

Variations

DinahDeenaDina

Nicknames

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If you like Dena…

Dinah— the biblical form
Dana— a companion short vintage name
Lena— another soft -ena name
Dina— shares Dena's Hebrew roots
Donna— another English name

Explore names like Dena

By themeuncertainenglishhebrewvintage
By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dena mean?

Dena spells Dinah ('judged, vindicated') and can mean 'from the valley'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Dena?

It's said DEE-nah /ˈdi.nɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Dena a boy or girl name?

Dena is a girl's name.

How popular is Dena?

Dena is a rare name in the U.S. today.

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