Lana Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAH-nah /ˈlɑː.nə/
Origin: Latin; Slavic; Hebrew
Meaning: Latin: 'light' or 'bright'; Slavic: 'calm'; Hebrew: 'weary'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lana has roots that can be traced back to multiple linguistic traditions. It is often considered a diminutive of the name Alana, which has origins in the Old Breton word "alan," meaning "handsome" or "cheerful." The name Alana itself is derived from the Gaelic name Ailín, which is a diminutive of Ail, meaning "rock" or "noble." The transition into English occurred through the influence of Celtic languages and the Norman Conquest, which introduced many Breton names into the English lexicon.
Additionally, Lana has been associated with the Latin word "lana," meaning "wool," which has contributed to its usage in various cultures, including Slavic languages where it is often linked to the meaning "light" or "shining." Historically, the name Lana has seen various notable figures and cultural references. While not directly mentioned in biblical texts, the name Alana appears in medieval literature and has been borne by several saints and noblewomen throughout the centuries.
The name gained further recognition in the 20th century through literature and popular culture, although specific milestones are less documented. The name's simplicity and melodic quality have contributed to its appeal in various artistic expressions, including music and film, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Culturally, Lana carries connotations of beauty and grace, often associated with nature and light. In some traditions, the name is linked to the idea of a gentle spirit or a nurturing presence.
This symbolic resonance has allowed the name to endure across different cultures and languages. The diminutive form "Lani" is also noted in some contexts, particularly in Hawaiian culture, where it means "heavenly" or "sky." Overall, the name Lana encapsulates a blend of historical significance and cultural richness, reflecting its diverse origins and meanings.
Famous people named Lana
In this section, you will find notable people named Lana. 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 Lana who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Lana 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.
Lana Del Rey is a singer and songwriter best known for Born to Die, Summertime Sadness, and Video Games.
Lana Parrilla is an actress best known for Once Upon a Time, Spin City, and The Defender.
Lana Wachowski is a filmmaker best known for The Matrix series, Cloud Atlas, and Sense8.
Fictional characters named Lana
The following list of fictional characters named Lana 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.
Lana Kane is a fictional character from the animated television series Archer. She is a skilled field agent and the primary love interest of the show's protagonist, Sterling Archer.
Lana is a fictional character from the video game series Bioshock Infinite. She is a key figure in the story, representing themes of choice and consequence as she aids the protagonist, Booker DeWitt.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lana, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lana. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Lana was first seen in the United States in 1885.
Lana has ranked as high as #344 nationally, which occurred in 1948, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Lana has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lana 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 Lana was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Lana (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 147 | |
| TX | 78 | |
| FL | 53 | |
| NY | 51 | |
| IL | 46 | |
| PA | 31 | |
| GA | 29 | |
| NC | 24 | |
| VA | 22 | |
| NJ | 21 | |
| OH | 20 | |
| WA | 20 | |
| IN | 20 | |
| MA | 19 | |
| MN | 16 |
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 Lana.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 829 |
| 2023 | 736 |
| 2022 | 750 |
| 2021 | 828 |
| 2020 | 793 |
| 2019 | 814 |
| 2018 | 872 |
| 2017 | 847 |
| 2016 | 847 |
| 2015 | 922 |
| 2014 | 943 |
| 2013 | 732 |
| 2012 | 708 |
| 2011 | 608 |
| 2010 | 628 |
| 2009 | 707 |
| 2008 | 731 |
| 2007 | 813 |
| 2006 | 773 |
| 2005 | 705 |
| 2004 | 640 |
| 2003 | 573 |
| 2002 | 380 |
| 2001 | 235 |
| 2000 | 209 |
| 1999 | 206 |
| 1998 | 186 |
| 1997 | 179 |
| 1996 | 182 |
| 1995 | 206 |
| 1994 | 192 |
| 1993 | 217 |
| 1992 | 231 |
| 1991 | 233 |
| 1990 | 251 |
| 1989 | 305 |
| 1988 | 327 |
| 1987 | 325 |
| 1986 | 302 |
| 1985 | 337 |
| 1984 | 376 |
| 1983 | 344 |
| 1982 | 334 |
| 1981 | 379 |
| 1980 | 457 |
| 1979 | 417 |
| 1978 | 511 |
| 1977 | 474 |
| 1976 | 384 |
| 1975 | 445 |
| 1974 | 457 |
| 1973 | 460 |
| 1972 | 600 |
| 1971 | 707 |
| 1970 | 780 |
| 1969 | 858 |
| 1968 | 804 |
| 1967 | 919 |
| 1966 | 876 |
| 1965 | 781 |
| 1964 | 883 |
| 1963 | 817 |
| 1962 | 787 |
| 1961 | 819 |
| 1960 | 776 |
| 1959 | 724 |
| 1958 | 672 |
| 1957 | 650 |
| 1956 | 680 |
| 1955 | 770 |
| 1954 | 811 |
| 1953 | 1,009 |
| 1952 | 1,104 |
| 1951 | 1,198 |
| 1950 | 1,314 |
| 1949 | 1,318 |
| 1948 | 1,465 |
| 1947 | 1,364 |
| 1946 | 1,300 |
| 1945 | 946 |
| 1944 | 901 |
| 1943 | 999 |
| 1942 | 857 |
| 1941 | 625 |
| 1940 | 424 |
| 1939 | 87 |
| 1938 | 40 |
| 1937 | 17 |
| 1936 | 13 |
| 1935 | 15 |
| 1934 | 19 |
| 1933 | 14 |
| 1932 | 13 |
| 1931 | 11 |
| 1930 | 22 |
| 1929 | 19 |
| 1928 | 17 |
| 1927 | 26 |
| 1926 | 22 |
| 1925 | 36 |
| 1924 | 26 |
| 1923 | 23 |
| 1922 | 26 |
| 1921 | 21 |
| 1920 | 14 |
| 1919 | 18 |
| 1918 | 22 |
| 1917 | 22 |
| 1916 | 21 |
| 1915 | 14 |
| 1914 | 9 |
| 1913 | 7 |
| 1912 | 10 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 10 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1908 | 5 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1906 | 8 |
| 1905 | 14 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1903 | 9 |
| 1902 | 8 |
| 1901 | 9 |
| 1900 | 10 |
| 1897 | 7 |
| 1896 | 11 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1894 | 8 |
| 1893 | 14 |
| 1892 | 11 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1888 | 9 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1885 | 6 |