Dena: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,581

among girls · ↑113 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Dena · +3% vs 2024

How common

1 in 53,576

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1970

1,542 babies

All-time total

32,535

#800 all-time among girls

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Dena popularity over time

32,535 babies have been named Dena since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	255	–	255	26	–	#341
1890s	415	–	415	42	+63%	#350
1900s	376	–	376	38	-9%	#463
1910s	803	–	803	80	+114%	#615
1920s	842	–	842	84	+5%	#743
1930s	674	–	674	67	-20%	#770
1940s	1,259	–	1,259	126	+87%	#571
1950s	3,956	–	3,956	396	+214%	#387
1960s	9,174	10	9,184	918	+132%	#237
1970s	8,504	31	8,535	854	-7%	#208
1980s	3,614	15	3,629	363	-57%	#416
1990s	1,310	–	1,310	131	-64%	#957
2000s	709	–	709	71	-46%	#1,832
2010s	406	–	406	41	-43%	#3,266
2020s (to 2025)	182	–	182	30	-25%	#4,135

Where Dena is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 girls (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 girls	Implied rank
2026	30	0.02	outside top 500
2027	29	0.02	outside top 500
2028	29	0.02	outside top 500
2029	29	0.02	outside top 500
2030	28	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Dena

Dena is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,581 in 2025 with 30 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 32,535 American babies have been named Dena. Its peak came in 1970, when 1,542 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Dena stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Dena?

The median living Dena is about 55 years old; half are between 47 and 62. An estimated 27 thousand people named Dena are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Dena year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	30	#4,581	–	–
2024	29	#4,694	–	–
2023	27	#4,903	–	–
2022	35	#4,135	–	–
2021	32	#4,346	–	–
2020	29	#4,573	–	–
2019	32	#4,367	–	–
2018	37	#3,945	–	–
2017	42	#3,646	–	–
2016	44	#3,537	–	–
2015	37	#4,013	–	–
2014	45	#3,504	–	–
2013	43	#3,593	–	–
2012	34	#4,321	–	–
2011	42	#3,679	–	–
2010	50	#3,266	–	–
2009	47	#3,471	–	–
2008	59	#2,966	–	–
2007	61	#2,938	–	–
2006	66	#2,712	–	–
2005	69	#2,507	–	–
2004	65	#2,564	–	–
2003	84	#2,095	–	–
2002	93	#1,902	–	–
2001	71	#2,268	–	–
2000	94	#1,832	–	–
1995	127	#1,311	–	–
1990	196	#957	–	–
1985	358	#552	–	–
1980	530	#416	–	–
1975	815	#293	6	#4,953
1970	1,542	#208	–	–
1965	810	#318	–	–
1960	739	#355	–	–
1955	467	#404	–	–
1950	205	#589	–	–
1945	127	#651	–	–
1940	73	#835	–	–
1935	59	#897	–	–
1930	78	#802	–	–
1925	91	#774	–	–
1920	95	#743	–	–
1915	113	#615	–	–
1910	30	#783	–	–
1905	37	#572	–	–
1900	53	#463	–	–
1895	36	#489	–	–
1890	31	#470	–	–
1885	27	#397	–	–
1880	13	#474	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Dena, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Dena?

The median living Dena is about 55 years old. Half of all living Denas are between 47 and 62 years old.

How many people named Dena are alive today?

An estimated 27 thousand people named Dena are alive in the United States, based on 32,535 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Dena mean?

Dena is a given name derived from Dinah and may refer to:Dena Atlantic, American television actress Dena M.

How popular is the name Dena in 2025?

Dena ranked #4,581 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 30 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Dena?

32,535 babies have been named Dena in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Dena most popular?

Dena peaked in 1970, when 1,542 newborns received the name.

Is Dena a boy or girl name?

Dena is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Dena rising or falling?

Dena is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Will Dena become more popular?

Dena looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 28 girls named Dena in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Names like Dena

Names that sound and feel close to Dena: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Dena with similar names → More names starting with D →