Leena

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-nuh /ˈliː.nə/High

Meaning: Tender; Finnish form of Helena (bright, shining) or a spelling variant of Lena; in Arabic, layna means tender, gentleMedium

In 30 seconds: A soft two-syllable name found independently in Finnish (form of Helena), Arabic (tender, gentle), and as a spelling variant of Lena. Its warmth and simplicity make it widely usable across cultures.

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Origin MediumFinnish, Greek, Arabic

MeaningTender; Finnish form of Helena (bright, shining) or a spelling variant of Lena; in Arabic, layna means tender, gentle

U.S. rank (2024)#1086 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births227 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,573

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

Leena exists in multiple independent traditions: in Finnish it is a form of Helena (bright, shining); in Arabic the root layna means tender or gentle; it also functions as a spelling variant of the German/Scandinavian Lena (itself a short form of Helena or Magdalena).

Leena has been used in the U.S. across Finnish American, Arab American, and South Asian communities. It ranked #1086 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? In Finnish, Leena is one of the most common women's names — a form of Helena — celebrated on Helena Day (August 18) in the Finnish name-day calendar, which has a special day for nearly every name.

Overall data confidence 77%

Behind the Name — Leena — multiple etymologiesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LenaLinaLenah

Nicknames

Lee

Famous Bearers

★Leena Nair (1969-)
British-Indian business executive and CEO of Chanel
★Leena Yadav (1971-)
Indian film director and screenwriter known for Parched

If you like Leena…

Lena— the most common spelling of the same name

Lina— short -ina ending name with the same soft, international feel

Elena— the fuller form sharing the Helen root

Nina— short two-syllable name with the same gentle quality

Tina— two-syllable -ina name from the same mid-century era

Explore names like Leena

By themearabic short two-syllable scandinavian multicultural finnish

By meaningLight Gentle / Kind

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Leena mean?

Leena has multiple origins: it is a Finnish form of Helena (bright, shining) and in Arabic layna means tender or gentle.

How do you pronounce Leena?

It's said LEE-nuh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Leena a boy or girl name?

Leena is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Leena?

Leena ranked #1086 for U.S. girls in 2024.