NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Xena

A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "hospitable" or "welcoming 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.

Xena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Xena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2771, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 33 births.

This profile covers 378 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 376 living people in the UK are called Xena. 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

  • Xena ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 33 girls were registered as Xena.
  • About 376 living people in the UK are estimated to have Xena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2771

2024

Births in 2024

9

Latest year

Peak year

1998

33 births

Estimated living

376

2026

Meaning

What does Xena mean?

The given name Xena has its origins in ancient Greek culture, where it was derived from the Greek word "xenos," meaning "stranger" or "foreigner." This name gained popularity in the ancient Greek world during the classical period, which spanned from the 5th to the 4th century BC.

In Greek mythology, Xena was the name of one of the Amazons, a race of fierce female warriors. The Amazons were often depicted in Greek legends and artwork, symbolizing strength, courage, and independence. This association with the mythological Amazons may have contributed to the name's appeal and symbolism.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Xena can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. Herodotus mentioned a woman named Xena in his work "The Histories," although details about her life are scarce.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Xena. One of the most famous was Xena, a powerful warrior princess from ancient Greece, who was born around 450 BC. According to legend, she was a skilled fighter and leader who commanded her own army and fought alongside the Greeks in various battles.

Another prominent figure named Xena was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 3rd century BC. She was known for her teachings on ethics and virtue, and her works were widely studied and influential during her time.

In the Middle Ages, a woman named Xena of Saxony (1025-1092) was a prominent figure in the Holy Roman Empire. She was a noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the political and religious affairs of her time.

During the Renaissance period, Xena Bellini (1432-1516) was an Italian painter and artist from Venice. She was renowned for her skillful portraiture and religious paintings, which adorned many churches and palaces throughout Italy.

In more recent times, the name Xena gained widespread recognition and popularity due to the iconic television series "Xena: Warrior Princess," which aired from 1995 to 2001. The show's protagonist, played by Lucy Lawless, was a fierce and powerful warrior named Xena, who battled against evil forces and mythological creatures in ancient Greece.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Xena over time

The chart below shows babies named Xena 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 Xena, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 33 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Xena
08172533199620102024

Decades

Xena by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Xena 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 #2136 67 5
2010s #2640 104 10
2000s #2302 113 10
1990s #1116 94 4

Related

Names similar to Xena

FAQ

Xena: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Xena was ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Xena most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 33 babies registered as Xena in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Xena?

A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "hospitable" or "welcoming stranger".

How many people are called Xena in the UK?

A total of 378 babies have been registered as Xena across the 29 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.