Leila vs Lena
Leila and Lenacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Leila was ranked #275 and Lena #207 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Leila was ranked #302 and Lena #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Leila was ranked #325 and Lena #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Leila was ranked #268 and Lena #288 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Leila was ranked #409 and Lena #294 among girls in Norway.
Leila and Lena over time
Leila and Lena appear together in 4 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Lena held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leila in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leila and Lena changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1981 and 2025, ending at #325 and #266.
- Longest-running competitions
Leila and Lena were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #268 and #288.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Leila #132 in 2012, Lena #128 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1957–2025
Leila held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lena in 53.
Highest recorded here: Leila #204 in 1977, Lena #20 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leila #409, Lena #294.
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1981–2025
Leila held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lena in 27.
Highest recorded here: Leila #168 in 2011, Lena #71 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leila #325, Lena #266.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leila held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Lena in 10.
Highest recorded here: Leila #132 in 2012, Lena #128 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leila #268, Lena #288.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2007–2023
Leila held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lena in 14.
Highest recorded here: Leila #218 in 2018, Lena #131 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leila #302, Lena #237.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Lena
Pairs where Lena shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Lena
Anna and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #294.
Anna · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Lena
Anne and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #294.
Anne · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Astrid vs Lena
Astrid and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #9 and #294.
Astrid · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elisabeth vs Lena
Elisabeth and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #171 and #294.
Elisabeth · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Leila | Lena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈleː.na/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #268 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lena has a recorded origin (Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions); Leila does not have one recorded yet.
- Leila and Lena both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Leila doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Leila
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #383 among girls in Norway in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #132 among girls in England and Wales, in 2012 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Lena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #346 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1969 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #288 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls