UK girl's name
Alhena
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the bright one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Alhena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Alhena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3536, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 6 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2000 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Alhena is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Alhena. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Alhena ranked #3536 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 6 girls were registered as Alhena.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alhena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3536
2013
Births in 2013
6
Latest year
Peak year
2013
6 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Alhena mean?
Alhena is an Arabic name derived from the phrase "al-han'ah," which means "the brand" or "the mark." This name has its origins in the ancient Arabic civilization, specifically in the field of astronomy. It refers to the third brightest star in the constellation Gemini, also known as Gamma Geminorum.
The earliest recorded use of the name Alhena dates back to ancient Arabic astronomical texts, where it was used to identify this particular star. In these texts, the star was often described as a "brand" or "mark" in the sky, which is the origin of the name's meaning.
While the name Alhena is primarily associated with the celestial body, there are a few notable historical figures who have borne this name. One such figure is Alhena bint Yahya, a 9th-century Arab poet and scholar from Baghdad. She was renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature and her expertise in various fields, including astronomy.
Another notable figure with the name Alhena is Alhena al-Hadrami, a 10th-century Yemeni astronomer and mathematician. He is known for his works on the calculation of planetary positions and the development of astronomical instruments.
In the field of Islam, there is a mention of Alhena bint Abi Bakr, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the daughter of the first Caliph, Abu Bakr. She is revered for her piety and her role in preserving the teachings of Islam.
Moving forward in time, there is a record of Alhena al-Andalusi, a 12th-century Andalusian astronomer and mathematician from Seville, Spain. She made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the development of astronomical tables.
Finally, in more recent history, there is Alhena al-Jawhari, a 20th-century Syrian poet and writer. She was known for her powerful and thought-provoking works that explored themes of identity, culture, and the human experience.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Alhena throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural and astronomical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Alhena over time
The chart below shows babies named Alhena registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Alhena, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2013, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alhena by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alhena was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4622 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4157 | 17 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Alhena
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Alhena: questions and answers
How popular is the name Alhena in the UK right now?
In 2013, Alhena was ranked #3536 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Alhena most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 6 babies registered as Alhena in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Alhena?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the bright one".
How many people are called Alhena in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Alhena across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.