Lena
/ˈleːna/
Lena is a German female given name.
Lena is a female given name.
Meaning: female given name (name)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈleːna/
Did you know?
- While Lena is a name, the word lenken in German means 'to steer' or 'to guide', and although they are not etymologically related, the phonetic similarity often creates puns in German wordplay.
- German speakers might use the diminutive Lenka as a playful or affectionate variation of Lena, a form influenced by neighboring Slavic languages.
- In some German contexts, the name Lena can be interpreted as a diminutive of Helena, which traces back to the Greek word for 'torch' or 'shining light'.
Examples in context
- Lena liest ein Jugendmagazin.Lena is reading a teen magazine.Tatoeba #2738781 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2737116 by Hybrid
- Hätte Lena nur auf Deutsch gesungen, wäre ihr der Sieg gelungen.If Lena had only sung in German, she would have won.Tatoeba #900373 by Esperantostern, translation #3033518 by pne
- Hey Lena, möchtest du heute Abend ins Kino gehen?Hey Lena, do you want to go to the movies tonight?
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are talking about their friend at a cafe.
- JuliaWeißt du, ob Lena heute kommt?Do you know if Lena is coming today?
- FelixJa, Lena kommt später zu uns.Yes, Lena is coming to join us later.
- JuliaDas ist toll, sie ist sehr nett.That is great, she is very nice.
- FelixStimmt, ich freue mich auf sie.True, I am looking forward to seeing her.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Lena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
