Girl Name
Zena
Zena is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Zena is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Zena often also consider Zona.
Zena meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Zena has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Zena as Z·E·N·A, with 4 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Zena is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Zena variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Zenaa, Zenae, Zenay, Zen.
- Nicknames: Zena works as its own nickname.
- Middle names: Pair Zena with a middle name that balances its short sound; start with the Zena middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Zona, Zina, Zana, Zeno, Zenia — full picks on the sibling names for Zena guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Zena? Browse our names like Zena guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Zena
What does the name Zena mean?
Zena has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Zena?
The exact origin of Zena is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Zena?
Zena has 4 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Zena a boy's or girl's name?
Zena is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Zena in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Zena sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Zena?
Names that share Zena's sound and style include Zona, Zina, Zana, Zeno, Zenia.
What middle names pair well with Zena?
Good middle-name fits for Zena pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Zena is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Zena is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Zena?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Zena share its rhythm without rhyming — Zona, Zina, Zana all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.