Malena Girl

Popularity: #867 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mah-LAY-nah /mɑˈleɪ.nə/

Origin: Spanish; Italian

Meaning: Spanish: 'calm' or 'peaceful'; Italian: diminutive of 'Malina', meaning 'little apple'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Malena has its roots in various linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Latin word "mala," meaning "apple" or "bad." This Latin term evolved into several forms in different languages, leading to the modern name Malena. The name is often associated with the Spanish diminutive form of Magdalena, which itself originates from the Hebrew name Magdalen, meaning "of Magdala," a town on the Sea of Galilee.

The transition into English occurred through the influence of Spanish and Italian, where Malena has been embraced as a feminine name. Historically, the name Malena has connections to notable figures, particularly in religious contexts.

The name Magdalena is often linked to Mary Magdalene, a significant figure in the New Testament, who is recognized for her role as a follower of Jesus Christ. The translation of the Bible into various languages, including the Latin Vulgate in the late 4th century and the King James Bible in the early 17th century, helped popularize names derived from biblical figures, including Magdalena and its variants.

The name Malena, while not as widely recognized in historical texts, carries the weight of this biblical heritage. Culturally, Malena has been associated with themes of beauty and femininity, often reflecting the qualities attributed to Mary Magdalene in Christian tradition.

The name has also appeared in various artistic works, including literature and film, which have contributed to its resonance in different cultures. Additionally, the name's melodic quality has made it appealing in various languages, further embedding it in cultural narratives.

The enduring nature of Malena can be attributed to its rich etymological background and the strong historical figures associated with its roots.

Famous people named Malena

In this section, you will find notable people named Malena. 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 Malena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Malena 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.

Malena Ernman is a singer and actress best known for her performances in operas and her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Malena Pichot is a comedian and actress best known for her work in Argentine television and her stand-up comedy performances.

Fictional characters named Malena

The following list of fictional characters named Malena 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.

Malena is a fictional character from the film Malèna. She is a beautiful woman in a small Italian town during World War II, who becomes the subject of obsession and gossip among the local men and women.

Sibling suggestions

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

ElenaSofiaIsabellaLunaClaraNina

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Malena. 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.

SelenaAlenaMarinaMirellaAdelinaLianaMelinaMina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Malena was first seen in the United States in 1886.

Malena has ranked as high as #2489 nationally, which occurred in 2004, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Malena 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 Malena 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 Malena.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 81 81
2024 73 73
2023 70 70
2022 78 78
2021 75 75
2020 59 59
2019 88 88
2018 81 81
2017 89 89
2016 82 82
2015 100 100
2014 110 110
2013 95 95
2012 98 98
2011 115 115
2010 118 118
2009 123 123
2008 122 122
2007 138 138
2006 130 130
2005 117 117
2004 146 146
2003 107 107
2002 139 139
2001 119 119
2000 93 93
1999 73 73
1998 63 63
1997 58 58
1996 50 50
1995 45 45
1994 40 40
1993 41 41
1992 49 49
1991 42 42
1990 22 22
1989 26 26
1988 25 25
1987 19 19
1986 25 25
1985 31 31
1984 21 21
1983 40 40
1982 30 30
1981 36 36
1980 35 35
1979 35 35
1978 41 41
1977 38 38
1976 29 29
1975 42 42
1974 52 52
1973 43 43
1972 63 63
1971 66 66
1970 53 53
1969 24 24
1968 14 14
1967 17 17
1966 6 6
1965 8 8
1964 8 8
1963 7 7
1962 11 11
1961 10 10
1960 6 6
1958 13 13
1957 10 10
1954 6 6
1953 6 6
1951 5 5
1950 5 5
1936 5 5
1930 6 6
1924 6 6
1886 6 6

Top States for Malena (2024)

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 15
39%
PA 12
32%
CA 11
29%