Lana Name Meaning

The name Lana originated as a diminutive form of the name Alana or Elena.

History of the Name Lana

The history of the name Lana can be traced back to the Slavic languages, where it originated as a diminutive form of the name Alana or Elena. In Russian, the name Lana means “little or woolen one”, which is fitting as it has been a popular name for generations, much like a warm woolen sweater.

In addition to its Slavic roots, the name Lana has also been used in various cultures and languages, each with their own unique meaning. In Hawaiian, Lana means “calm as still waters”, while in Arabic, it means “to attain, to reach” and in Persian, it means “wanderer”.

Popularity of the Name Lana

Lana first started gaining popularity as a name in the early 20th century, and reached its peak in the 1940s and 1950s. It remained a popular name through the 1970s and 1980s, but has since seen a decline in usage. However, the name Lana has remained a timeless classic, much like a pearl necklace passed down from generation to generation.

Famous Lanas

Throughout history, there have been many famous women named Lana, including Lana Turner, an American actress who was known as the “sweater girl” and starred in films such as “The Postman Always Rings Twice” and “Imitation of Life”. Lana Del Rey, an American singer and songwriter, known for her hauntingly beautiful music and unique style.

The name Lana has also made appearances in various forms of pop culture, such as in the comic book series “Arrow”, where the character of Lana Lang is the love interest of Superman and in the TV show “Mad Men” where the character Betty Draper’s maiden name is “Lana”.

Final Thoughts on the Name Lana

In conclusion, the name Lana has a rich history rooted in Slavic languages, and has been used in various cultures with different meanings. It has been a popular name for generations, and has been worn by many famous women throughout history. Even though it has seen a decline in usage in recent years, it remains a timeless classic, much like a pearl necklace passed down from generation to generation.

Infographic of Lana name meaning, which is A shortened form of Alana, Lana is an English name meaning little rock.
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Lana Name Popularity

How popular is the name Lana? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 747 46 0.0045%
1940 312 372 0.035%
1941 254 601 0.0534%
1942 223 836 0.0662%
1943 208 974 0.0746%
1944 216 883 0.0712%
1945 204 931 0.0763%
1946 190 1,280 0.0867%
1947 195 1,337 0.0801%
1948 188 1,450 0.0908%
1949 205 1,304 0.0811%
1950 203 1,297 0.0806%
1951 221 1,182 0.0697%
1952 236 1,082 0.062%
1953 256 974 0.055%
1954 296 786 0.043%
1955 307 750 0.0408%
1956 333 653 0.0346%
1957 352 630 0.0327%
1958 356 634 0.0335%
1959 352 702 0.0369%
1960 342 738 0.039%
1961 325 801 0.0424%
1962 329 763 0.0416%
1963 326 804 0.0448%
1964 309 858 0.0487%
1965 320 757 0.0463%
1966 284 850 0.0544%
1967 278 891 0.0587%
1968 310 770 0.0513%
1969 305 842 0.0547%
1970 332 750 0.0471%
1971 348 681 0.0453%
1972 360 575 0.0422%
1973 418 430 0.0332%
1974 420 427 0.0329%
1975 445 399 0.0311%
1976 476 342 0.0265%
1977 421 443 0.0329%
1978 396 481 0.0358%
1979 474 387 0.0274%
1980 458 427 0.0292%
1981 505 353 0.024%
1982 575 270 0.0181%
1983 550 283 0.0192%
1984 521 324 0.0218%
1985 582 287 0.0189%
1986 623 252 0.0167%
1987 597 279 0.0183%
1988 616 279 0.0179%
1989 658 263 0.0163%
1990 839 185 0.0112%
1991 890 172 0.0106%
1992 846 188 0.0118%
1993 925 155 0.0099%
1994 1,040 129 0.0084%
1995 1,003 135 0.009%
1996 1,025 131 0.0087%
1997 1,130 112 0.0076%
1998 1,137 113 0.0075%
1999 1,048 139 0.0093%
2000 1,008 158 0.0103%
2001 984 170 0.0113%
2002 664 338 0.0226%
2003 498 537 0.0353%
2004 459 610 0.04%
2005 427 679 0.0444%
2006 406 747 0.0477%
2007 395 793 0.0503%
2008 435 689 0.0446%
2009 442 667 0.0446%
2010 472 593 0.0411%
2011 487 559 0.0392%
2012 438 670 0.047%
2013 403 706 0.0496%
2014 345 914 0.0627%
2015 355 877 0.0603%
2016 379 816 0.0566%
2017 358 810 0.058%
2018 346 838 0.061%
2019 366 782 0.0578%
2020 393 741 0.0582%
2021 377 739 0.0605%
2022 423 713 0.054%
2023 423 693 0.0535%

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Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

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Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Lana

If you like Lana, you’ll love these other names like Lana.

What names are variants of Lana?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Lana.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Lanae

American

Lanette

Idol, image, shape; idol; linnet, a small songbird; nymph; idol

Welsh

Lanna

Precious; awakening

Polynesian

Lanny

Precious; awakening

Polynesian

What names sound like Lana?

If you like how Lana sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Lana.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Laina

Path, roadway

Latin

Lanah

Precious; awakening

Polynesian

Lanai

Porch

Polynesian

Lane

Small pathway or road

English

Lani

Sky

Polynesian

Leana

To twine around

French

Lena

Woman from Magdala

Hebrew

Liana

To twine around

French

Lina

Palm tree

Latin

Lona

A short form of Alonsa.

Luana

Enjoyment

Polynesian

Luna

The moon

Latin

Lyna

Light; palm tree

Slavic

Lists With Lana

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Lana.

7 Comments

  1. I am very happy with my name and thank my mother for choosing it which means “my home” in Kurdish culture?

    Reply

  2. It’s simple, yet sweet.

    Reply

    • I’ve always thought about what my name might mean. Some people told me it means light and others told me blessed. I’m from Germany and my mother is from Greece so I’m well aware of both cultures and languages.

      Reply

  3. We chose Lana because we like short, simple, classy names. My family is also from Brazil, so I wanted a name that they could pronounce. Portuguese and English speakers can easily pronounce Lana. The only thing I dislike is the double pronunciation of the name: lay-na and lah-na. We went with lah-na which thankfully is what people go with first because of Lana Del Rey hahaha but they usually ask to double-check the pronunciation. I have received many compliments on this name and it is cute to call baby Lana all the time. I don’t regret the name at all. ?

    Reply

  4. Lana means “sun burst” and is derived from Greek. In Catholicism, Lana refers to Saint Helena.
    This name combined religion and light so the father and I chose it.

    Reply

  5. i just loved the name britalia, which i have chosen for my baby but i am searching the meaning. If u do, can u please let me know?

    Reply

  6. I like names that are very unique and my husband likes names that are very familiar. This name wasn’t too out there but was different enough to peak my interest! We ended up choosing it for our little because it sounded like a calm name and Lana was very chill in the womb! We later found out it means Afloat; calm as still waters in Hawaiian culture!

    Reply

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