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Tena Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Tena

Pronunciation: TEE-nuh

Meaning Pure (traditional); health Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#17,031
TREND
6,801
Peak Years
1962, 1961, 1960
Lowest Years
2011, 2025, 2002
Energy Archetype
Sensitive & Diplomatic

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Tena in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Tena

  • More than 8 thousand babies named Tena: U.S. records list 8,185 babies given the name Tena from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Tena Mean?

Tena is a given name with two independent established origins. In Croatian, Serbian, and Slovenian use it is a short form of Katarina, the South Slavic form of Catherine. Katarina derives through Latin Catharina from Greek Aikaterine; the Greek name's etymology is uncertain, and the customary meaning "pure" comes from a later association with katharos, Greek for "pure." In Amharic, ጤና (tena) means "health," and Tena is used as a given name in Ethiopia.

Tena Name History & Origins

Tena is used in Croatia and neighboring South Slavic countries as a familiar shortened form of Katarina and as an independent given name. The parent name spread through Latin Catharina from Greek Aikaterine and became common in Christian Europe; the cult of Saint Catherine of Alexandria was a major influence on its use. The shorter Tena belongs to the same South Slavic pattern of clipped name forms, but it is not simply a translation or a direct Greek derivative.

In Ethiopia, Tena is an Amharic name taken from an ordinary word in the language. Its history is separate from the South Slavic name: it comes from a different language and naming tradition, and its meaning is the everyday Amharic sense rather than a Christian name etymology.

How Popular is the Name Tena?

Tena recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1962. Its best rank was #318 in 1883.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Tena Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Tena's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Tena's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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