Lena

Lena is a name with multiple origins, functioning both as an independent name and as a short form of longer names such as Helena, Magdalena, and Elena. In its standalone use it draws on the Greek root meaning light or torch, inherited through Helena, itself derived from Helene, the name borne by the legendary Spartan queen whose abduction sparked the Trojan War. The name spread widely across Europe and became especially popular in Scandinavian, German, and Slavic cultures, where it often stands on its own rather than as a diminutive. Variant forms include Lina, Lene, and Léna.