Zena Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZEE-nah //ˈziː.nə//
Origin: Greek; Arabic
Meaning: Greek: 'hospitable'; Arabic: 'zeal'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zena has its roots in the Greek language, deriving from the word "zenon," which means "of Zeus" or "divine." This etymology connects the name to the ancient Greek god Zeus, who was considered the king of the gods in Greek mythology. The name Zena may also be associated with the Greek word "zenith," symbolizing the highest point, further emphasizing its celestial connotations.
The transition of the name into English likely occurred through various adaptations of Greek names during the Renaissance, a period marked by a revival of interest in classical antiquity and its languages. Historically, the name Zena has been linked to various cultural and literary figures.
Although not as prominent as other names derived from Greek mythology, it has appeared in literature and art, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries. The name gained some recognition through characters in novels and plays, where it often represented strong and independent female figures.
The use of Zena in literature reflects broader themes of empowerment and femininity, resonating with the ideals of the time. Culturally, Zena embodies a sense of strength and divinity, drawing on its associations with Zeus.
This connection has allowed the name to endure in various forms and adaptations across cultures. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Zenaida have emerged, further enriching the name's historical tapestry.
The name's enduring appeal can be attributed to its strong linguistic roots and the positive attributes associated with its meaning, making it a name that carries both historical significance and cultural resonance.
Famous people named Zena
In this section, you will find notable people named Zena. 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 Zena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zena 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.
Zena Hitz is a philosopher best known for Lost in Thought, the importance of philosophy, and her work on the liberal arts.
Fictional characters named Zena
The following list of fictional characters named Zena 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.
Zena is a fictional character from the animated series Zena: Warrior Princess. She is a fierce warrior known for her strength, combat skills, and quest for redemption.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zena, 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 Zena. 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 Zena was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Zena has ranked as high as #907 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Zena has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zena 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 Zena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zena (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 | 11 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| NY | 8 | |
| FL | 5 | |
| NC | 5 |
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 Zena.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 82 |
| 2023 | 86 |
| 2022 | 90 |
| 2021 | 84 |
| 2020 | 83 |
| 2019 | 90 |
| 2018 | 74 |
| 2017 | 81 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2013 | 46 |
| 2012 | 48 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2010 | 41 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2008 | 39 |
| 2007 | 44 |
| 2006 | 33 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2004 | 40 |
| 2003 | 40 |
| 2002 | 45 |
| 2001 | 46 |
| 2000 | 44 |
| 1999 | 78 |
| 1998 | 88 |
| 1997 | 104 |
| 1996 | 127 |
| 1995 | 59 |
| 1994 | 71 |
| 1993 | 44 |
| 1992 | 52 |
| 1991 | 49 |
| 1990 | 63 |
| 1989 | 71 |
| 1988 | 33 |
| 1987 | 51 |
| 1986 | 44 |
| 1985 | 62 |
| 1984 | 38 |
| 1983 | 47 |
| 1982 | 58 |
| 1981 | 54 |
| 1980 | 51 |
| 1979 | 24 |
| 1978 | 28 |
| 1977 | 24 |
| 1976 | 36 |
| 1975 | 25 |
| 1974 | 32 |
| 1973 | 39 |
| 1972 | 39 |
| 1971 | 45 |
| 1970 | 51 |
| 1969 | 43 |
| 1968 | 63 |
| 1967 | 69 |
| 1966 | 104 |
| 1965 | 142 |
| 1964 | 222 |
| 1963 | 213 |
| 1962 | 70 |
| 1961 | 63 |
| 1960 | 52 |
| 1959 | 39 |
| 1958 | 26 |
| 1957 | 41 |
| 1956 | 30 |
| 1955 | 27 |
| 1954 | 23 |
| 1953 | 22 |
| 1952 | 20 |
| 1951 | 34 |
| 1950 | 21 |
| 1949 | 18 |
| 1948 | 29 |
| 1947 | 21 |
| 1946 | 12 |
| 1945 | 14 |
| 1944 | 23 |
| 1943 | 15 |
| 1942 | 35 |
| 1941 | 21 |
| 1940 | 19 |
| 1939 | 13 |
| 1938 | 16 |
| 1937 | 16 |
| 1936 | 20 |
| 1935 | 21 |
| 1934 | 24 |
| 1933 | 35 |
| 1932 | 31 |
| 1931 | 26 |
| 1930 | 27 |
| 1929 | 43 |
| 1928 | 27 |
| 1927 | 36 |
| 1926 | 41 |
| 1925 | 48 |
| 1924 | 39 |
| 1923 | 48 |
| 1922 | 43 |
| 1921 | 62 |
| 1920 | 45 |
| 1919 | 31 |
| 1918 | 53 |
| 1917 | 37 |
| 1916 | 46 |
| 1915 | 40 |
| 1914 | 35 |
| 1913 | 31 |
| 1912 | 27 |
| 1911 | 26 |
| 1910 | 21 |
| 1909 | 21 |
| 1908 | 13 |
| 1907 | 14 |
| 1906 | 19 |
| 1905 | 21 |
| 1904 | 15 |
| 1903 | 8 |
| 1902 | 11 |
| 1901 | 12 |
| 1900 | 21 |
| 1899 | 10 |
| 1898 | 18 |
| 1897 | 16 |
| 1896 | 9 |
| 1895 | 13 |
| 1894 | 14 |
| 1893 | 13 |
| 1892 | 16 |
| 1891 | 16 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1889 | 12 |
| 1888 | 8 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1884 | 11 |
| 1883 | 13 |
| 1882 | 6 |
| 1881 | 6 |
| 1880 | 7 |