Zena - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Zena

Zena is a trim, two-syllable name whose roots intertwine like vines over an old Persian arch: scholars trace it to the Greek Xenia (“hospitality”), to the Russian-Slavic cousin of Zinaida, and to the Arabic-Persian Zina, meaning “ornament” or “beauty.” In English it is typically voiced ZEE-nuh, while the Slavic ear favors ZEH-nah, so the name travels light across borders. American statistics show a pattern of quiet persistence—since the late 1800s Zena has loitered in the lower half of the Top 1000, never a chart-topper yet stubbornly unwilling to exit, rather like a reliable character actor who always makes opening night. The Zeus-derived etymology lends a subtle note of strength, while the Arabic-Persian sense of adornment supplies the shimmer; together they evoke the cool geometry of an Isfahan tile, elegant but durable. Compact on paper and distinctive in sound, Zena offers parents a measured dash of rarity without risking mispronunciation fatigue.