UK girl's name
Dena
Greek name meaning "valley" or "little stranger".
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.
Dena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Dena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 12 births.
This profile covers 134 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 133 living people in the UK are called Dena. 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
- • Dena ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 12 girls were registered as Dena.
- • About 133 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
12 births
Estimated living
133
2026
Meaning
What does Dena mean?
The name Dena has its origins in the Persian language, with roots dating back to ancient Persia (present-day Iran). It is derived from the Persian word "dana," which means "wise" or "learned." The name was initially associated with scholars, intellectuals, and those who possessed exceptional knowledge and wisdom.
In the Middle Ages, the name Dena gained popularity among Persian poets and literary figures. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet Hafez (1315-1390), who dedicated several poems to a woman named Dena, celebrating her beauty and intellect.
During the Islamic Golden Age, a notable figure bearing the name Dena was Dena al-Isfahani (c. 961-1041), a renowned Persian scholar and philosopher. She was highly respected for her contributions to the fields of logic, mathematics, and astronomy, and her works were widely studied throughout the Islamic world.
In the 12th century, the name Dena appeared in the epic Persian poem "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi. The character Dena was depicted as a wise and courageous warrior, reflecting the name's association with strength and wisdom.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the name Dena, including:
1. Dena Attar (1328-1384), a Persian mystic and poet who wrote extensively on Sufism and spiritual enlightenment. 2. Dena Khayri (1503-1559), a Persian calligrapher and artist renowned for her intricate and beautiful calligraphic works. 3. Dena Banu Begum (1615-1671), a Mughal princess and patron of the arts, known for her influential role in promoting Persian culture and literature. 4. Dena Kapur (1871-1936), an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who advocated for women's rights and education. 5. Dena Sadar (1908-1986), an Iranian painter and sculptor celebrated for her avant-garde style and contributions to modern Persian art.
The name Dena continues to be used across various cultures and regions, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, where it is often chosen for its rich historical and cultural significance, representing wisdom, knowledge, and intellectual pursuits.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dena over time
The chart below shows babies named Dena registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Dena, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dena by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dena 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 | #5153 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4587 | 41 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2809 | 52 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2077 | 30 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Dena
- Daisy 49,435
- Danielle 13,507
- Darcie 11,010
- Darcy 10,516
- Darcey 9,708
- Delilah 9,098
- Demi 9,052
- Daniella 4,324
- Destiny 3,732
- Diana 3,258
- Dorothy 3,104
- Dolly 2,246
FAQ
Dena: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dena in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dena was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dena most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 12 babies registered as Dena in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dena?
Greek name meaning "valley" or "little stranger".
How many people are called Dena in the UK?
A total of 134 babies have been registered as Dena across the 23 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.