UK girl's name
Serena
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "serene" or "calm".
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.
Serena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Serena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #305, with 141 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 157 births.
This profile covers 3,664 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 90% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 4,044 living people in the UK are called Serena. 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
- • Serena ranked #305 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 141 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 157 girls were registered as Serena.
- • Serena ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #295 in 2024.
- • About 4,044 living people in the UK are estimated to have Serena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#305
2024
Births in 2024
141
Latest year
Peak year
2000
157 births
Estimated living
4,044
2026
Meaning
What does Serena mean?
The name Serena has its roots in the Latin language, originating from the word "serenus," which means "clear, calm, or tranquil." It is believed to have emerged as a name during the Roman era, around the first few centuries AD.
In ancient Roman culture, the concept of serenity held great significance, often associated with a state of peace, clarity, and composure. The name Serena was likely bestowed upon individuals with the hope of imbuing them with these desirable qualities.
One of the earliest known references to the name Serena can be found in the writings of the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger, who lived from 4 BC to 65 AD. He mentioned a woman named Serena in his work, although details about her identity are scarce.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Serena continued to be used, although its popularity waxed and waned across different regions of Europe. During the Renaissance period, it experienced a resurgence, particularly in Italy, where it was embraced by the aristocracy.
Notable historical figures who bore the name Serena include Serena of Normandy (1120-1120), the daughter of King Henry I of England, who tragically perished in the White Ship disaster at a young age. Saint Serena (c. 300 AD) was a Christian martyr who lived during the Roman Empire and was venerated for her unwavering faith.
In the literary world, Serena appears as a character in the play "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), adding to the name's cultural significance. Another prominent figure was Serena Williams (born 1981), the renowned American tennis player who has won numerous Grand Slam titles and is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Serena Deeb (born 1986) is a professional wrestler and former WWE Divas Champion, while Serena Ryder (born 1983) is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for her soulful vocals and poetic lyrics.
The name Serena has endured through the centuries, carrying with it a sense of tranquility and grace, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a rich historical lineage and positive connotations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Serena over time
The chart below shows babies named Serena 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 Serena, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 141 births in 2024, compared with 157 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Serena by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Serena 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 | #362 | 604 | 5 |
| 2010s | #415 | 1,086 | 10 |
| 2000s | #307 | 1,385 | 10 |
| 1990s | #264 | 589 | 4 |
Geography
Where Serena is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Serena. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Serena ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #295 in 2024.
Across the UK
Serena in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#295 in 2024
47 years of NRS records, 290 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#418 in 2022
21 years of NISRA records, 114 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Serena
-
Serena Nelson
association football player
Caymanian footballer
2000-
-
Serena Fletcher
association football player
English footballer
1998-
-
Serena Guen
businessperson
British publisher and businesswoman
1990-
-
Serena Korda
sculptor; performance artist; visual artist
British artist
1979-
-
Serena Curmi
visual artist
1978-
-
Serena Elizabeth Henrietta Rowe
visual artist
(born 1977)
1977-
-
Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon
socialite; aristocrat
wife of David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon
1970-
-
Serena Rees
businessperson
British businesswoman
1968-
Related
Names similar to Serena
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Serena: questions and answers
How popular is the name Serena in the UK right now?
In 2024, Serena was ranked #305 for girls in England and Wales, with 141 births registered.
When was Serena most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 157 babies registered as Serena in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Serena?
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "serene" or "calm".
How many people are called Serena in the UK?
A total of 3,664 babies have been registered as Serena across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 290 more in Scotland and 114 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Serena most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Serena ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #295 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.