NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Atena

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Greek meaning "wisdom".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Atena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Atena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 7 births.

This profile covers 30 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2015 to 2024. 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.

The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 30 living people in the UK are called Atena. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Atena ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 7 girls were registered as Atena.
  • About 30 living people in the UK are estimated to have Atena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2019

7 births

Estimated living

30

2026

Meaning

What does Atena mean?

The name Atena has its origins in the ancient Greek language and culture, where it was a variant spelling of the name Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, mathematics, strength, war strategy, and the arts. The name Athena is derived from the ancient Greek word "athene," meaning "mind" or "intellect."

In Greek mythology, Athena was born fully armed from the forehead of her father, Zeus, the king of the gods. She was revered as the patron goddess of the city of Athens, where the Parthenon, a magnificent temple dedicated to her, was constructed on the Acropolis in the 5th century BC. Her Roman counterpart was the goddess Minerva.

One of the earliest known references to the name Atena can be found in the Iliad, an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, which recounts events during the Trojan War. In this text, Athena is depicted as a fierce warrior goddess who played a significant role in the conflict, often intervening on behalf of the Achaeans.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Atena. One of the earliest known was Atena of Philippi, a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 4th century BC. She is credited with being one of the first female mathematicians and is believed to have made significant contributions to the field of geometry.

Another notable figure was Atena Lucille Simmons (1845-1937), an American author, educator, and activist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in the United States. She was a co-founder of the National Association of Colored Women and worked tirelessly to promote education and civil rights for African Americans.

In the realm of literature, Atena Garnelo (1901-1943) was a Brazilian writer and poet known for her contributions to the Modernist movement in Brazil. Her works explored themes of feminism, social injustice, and the struggles of the working class.

The name Atena has also been borne by several notable artists and performers. Atena Daemi (born 1988) is an Iranian human rights activist and political prisoner who has been incarcerated for her advocacy of women's rights and opposition to the Iranian government. Atena Bakić (born 1982) is a Serbian singer and songwriter who has achieved significant success in the Balkan region.

Finally, Atena Čiževska (1870-1952) was a Russian-born painter and graphic artist known for her contributions to the Art Nouveau movement. Her works were heavily influenced by her interest in mythology and symbolism, and she often incorporated elements of ancient Greek and Slavic folklore into her art.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Atena over time

The chart below shows babies named Atena registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Atena, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Atena
02457201520192024

Decades

Atena by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Atena 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
2020s #3767 17 3
2010s #4882 13 3

Related

Names similar to Atena

FAQ

Atena: questions and answers

How popular is the name Atena in the UK right now?

In 2024, Atena was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Atena most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 7 babies registered as Atena in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Atena?

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Greek meaning "wisdom".

How many people are called Atena in the UK?

A total of 30 babies have been registered as Atena across the 6 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.