NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Morena

A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "dark-skinned" or "brunette".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Morena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Morena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 6 births.

This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2013 to 2021. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Morena. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Morena ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 6 girls were registered as Morena.
  • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Morena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2019

6 births

Estimated living

20

2026

Meaning

What does Morena mean?

The name Morena has its origins in the Spanish language, deriving from the word "moreno" which means "dark-skinned" or "tanned." This name was likely used to describe individuals with olive or darker complexions, particularly those of Spanish or Latin American descent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morena can be found in the 16th century Spanish novel "La Celestina" by Fernando de Rojas, where a character named Morena is mentioned. This suggests that the name was in use during the Renaissance period in Spain.

In the realm of religious texts, the name Morena does not appear to have any significant references. However, it may have been used as a descriptive term or nickname for individuals within certain Catholic or Christian communities in Spanish-speaking regions.

One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Morena was Morena Escardo y Baylina (1827-1918), a Spanish feminist and writer who advocated for women's rights and education. She founded the first secular school for girls in Spain and played a pivotal role in the early feminist movement in her country.

Another historical figure with the name Morena was Morena Torroba (1888-1964), a Spanish composer and pianist known for her contributions to the zarzuela genre, a traditional Spanish operetta form. She composed several popular zarzuelas and worked to preserve and promote this art form during her lifetime.

In the realm of literature, the Brazilian writer Morena Brizola (1911-2002) was a notable figure. She was known for her novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice and the experiences of marginalized communities in Brazil.

The name Morena also has connections to the world of art. Morena Alcibar (1920-2008) was a Panamanian painter and sculptor whose works were heavily influenced by her indigenous heritage and the vibrant colors of her native Panama.

In more recent times, the name Morena has been used by several public figures, including Morena Baccarin, an American actress known for her roles in television shows such as "Firefly" and "Homeland." However, to maintain the focus on historical figures, this response does not delve into contemporary individuals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Morena over time

The chart below shows babies named Morena registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Morena, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Morena
02356201320172021

Decades

Morena by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Morena 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 #5581 3 1
2010s #4769 17 4

Related

Names similar to Morena

FAQ

Morena: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Morena was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Morena most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 6 babies registered as Morena in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Morena?

A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "dark-skinned" or "brunette".

How many people are called Morena in the UK?

A total of 20 babies have been registered as Morena across the 5 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.