Lena vs Stella
Lena and Stellacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #294 and Stella #66 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #266 and Stella #160 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lena was ranked #207 and Stella #351 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lena was ranked #288 and Stella #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lena was ranked #283 and Stella #305 among girls in England and Wales.
Lena and Stella over time
Lena and Stella appear together in 4 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Lena held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Stella in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Stella in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Stella moved ahead of Lena in Norway · Girls — #158 and #207 the year before became #180 and #170.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lena and Stella changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2005 and 2024, ending at #288 and #212.
- Longest-running competitions
Lena and Stella were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 45 years, from 1954 to 2025, ending at #294 and #66.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Stella in 24.
Highest recorded here: Lena #71 in 2012, Stella #103 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #266, Stella #160.
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1954–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Stella in 21.
Highest recorded here: Lena #23 in 1975, Stella #64 in 2015.
The order changed in 2005: Stella moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #158 and #207; by 2005 that had become #180 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #294, Stella #66.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lena held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Stella in 13.
Highest recorded here: Lena #128 in 2013, Stella #294 in 2020.
The order changed in 2009: Lena moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #341 and #333; by 2009 that had become #247 and #403.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lena #283, Stella #305.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2005–2024
Lena held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Stella in 2.
Highest recorded here: Lena #131 in 2012, Stella #178 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lena #288, Stella #212.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Lena | Stella |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.na/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #60 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Stella does not have one recorded yet.
- Lena and Stella both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Stella 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
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 #294 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Stella
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #411 among girls in Norway in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2023
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 2011 (recorded 2001–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls