Glenna Girl

Popularity: #941 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GLEH-nuh //ˈɡlɛnə//

Origin: Scottish; Irish

Meaning: Scottish: valley; Irish: gleann (valley)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Glenna has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic word "gleann," meaning "valley." This etymology reflects the natural landscape of Scotland, where many place names derive from geographical features. The name Glenna likely emerged as a feminine form of Glen, which has been used in various contexts to denote a valley or a secluded area.

The transition into English occurred as Gaelic influence permeated the British Isles, particularly during the medieval period when the Gaelic language and culture were prominent in Scotland and parts of Ireland. Historically, the name Glenna can be traced back to the 19th century, when it began to be used more widely as a given name.

It is often associated with the romanticized notions of the Scottish Highlands and the picturesque valleys that characterize the region. The name gained some recognition through literary works and cultural representations that celebrated Scottish heritage, particularly during the 19th-century Romantic movement, which idealized nature and the pastoral life.

Culturally, Glenna evokes imagery of serene landscapes and a connection to nature, which has contributed to its appeal. The name may also carry connotations of strength and tranquility, reflecting the characteristics often attributed to valleys in literature and folklore.

While diminutive forms such as Glen or Glyn may be encountered, Glenna stands out as a distinct feminine name that encapsulates the beauty of the Scottish landscape and its linguistic heritage. Overall, Glenna represents a blend of natural beauty and cultural significance, rooted in the rich tapestry of Scottish history.

Famous people named Glenna

In this section, you will find notable people named Glenna. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Glenna who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Glenna who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Glenna Goodacre is a sculptor best known for the Vietnam Women's Memorial, Sacagawea dollar coin, and various public sculptures.

Fictional characters named Glenna

The following list of fictional characters named Glenna is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Glenna is a fictional character from the book series The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. She is a member of the Aes Sedai and plays a significant role in the fight against the Dark One.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Glenna, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GlenLenaHannahElenaMinaNina

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Glenna. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

GlendaGwendolynSelenaLenaSiennaAlannaBrennaTina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Glenna was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Glenna has ranked as high as #568 nationally, which occurred in 1951, and has been most popular in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Glenna has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Glenna is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Glenna was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Glenna.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 7 0 7
2023 7 0 7
2022 12 0 12
2021 6 0 6
2020 9 0 9
2019 9 0 9
2018 9 0 9
2017 11 0 11
2016 12 0 12
2015 8 0 8
2014 12 0 12
2013 11 0 11
2012 8 0 8
2011 10 0 10
2010 8 0 8
2009 9 0 9
2008 10 0 10
2007 13 0 13
2006 9 0 9
2005 8 0 8
2004 20 0 20
2003 18 0 18
2002 11 0 11
2001 16 0 16
2000 20 0 20
1999 17 0 17
1998 30 0 30
1997 31 0 31
1996 30 0 30
1995 31 0 31
1994 45 0 45
1993 42 0 42
1992 40 0 40
1991 41 0 41
1990 38 0 38
1989 52 0 52
1988 49 0 49
1987 53 0 53
1986 51 0 51
1985 47 0 47
1984 42 0 42
1983 41 0 41
1982 45 0 45
1981 49 0 49
1980 61 0 61
1979 62 0 62
1978 52 0 52
1977 77 0 77
1976 85 0 85
1975 99 0 99
1974 87 0 87
1973 91 0 91
1972 117 0 117
1971 143 0 143
1970 132 0 132
1969 142 0 142
1968 137 0 137
1967 161 0 161
1966 152 0 152
1965 164 0 164
1964 210 0 210
1963 241 0 241
1962 298 0 298
1961 258 0 258
1960 286 0 286
1959 297 0 297
1958 310 0 310
1957 324 0 324
1956 404 0 404
1955 461 0 461
1954 521 0 521
1953 539 0 539
1952 583 0 583
1951 645 0 645
1950 600 0 600
1949 567 0 567
1948 587 0 587
1947 613 0 613
1946 530 0 530
1945 453 0 453
1944 512 0 512
1943 500 0 500
1942 489 0 489
1941 463 0 463
1940 468 5 463
1939 456 0 456
1938 463 0 463
1937 499 0 499
1936 425 0 425
1935 479 0 479
1934 516 0 516
1933 504 0 504
1932 515 0 515
1931 564 0 564
1930 555 0 555
1929 477 0 477
1928 519 0 519
1927 429 0 429
1926 467 0 467
1925 410 0 410
1924 399 0 399
1923 391 0 391
1922 330 0 330
1921 328 0 328
1920 268 0 268
1919 275 0 275
1918 276 0 276
1917 249 0 249
1916 221 0 221
1915 185 0 185
1914 149 0 149
1913 113 0 113
1912 97 0 97
1911 72 0 72
1910 66 0 66
1909 62 0 62
1908 52 0 52
1907 41 0 41
1906 49 0 49
1905 46 0 46
1904 53 0 53
1903 50 0 50
1902 41 0 41
1901 32 0 32
1900 45 0 45
1899 51 0 51
1898 45 0 45
1897 51 0 51
1896 43 0 43
1895 38 0 38
1894 24 0 24
1893 32 0 32
1892 26 0 26
1891 19 0 19
1890 24 0 24
1889 20 0 20
1888 25 0 25
1887 16 0 16
1886 15 0 15
1885 22 0 22
1884 9 0 9
1883 10 0 10
1882 6 0 6
1881 10 0 10
1880 7 0 7

Top States for Glenna (1998)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%