Drenna
Of uncertain origin, a feminine name possibly derived from Celtic elements.
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Drenna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Drenna today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Drenna births was 1966 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Drenna. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Drenna is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Drennas were born before 1971.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Drenna. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1966
6 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1966 SSA rank
#5,993
Tracked since 1947
Popularity
Drenna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Drenna from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 16 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Drenna by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Drenna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Drenna
The name Drenna is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples who inhabited Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age, roughly from the 8th to the 11th century AD. The name Drenna is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "drengr," which means "warrior" or "brave man."
In ancient Norse mythology, the name Drenna may have been associated with the concept of bravery and valor, as warriors and heroes were highly revered in the Viking culture. The name could have been bestowed upon newborn boys as a symbolic gesture, with the hope that they would grow up to be courageous and valiant individuals.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Drenna can be traced back to the medieval period, particularly in the regions of Scandinavia and Iceland. One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Drenna was Drenna Bjornsdottir, a renowned Norse skald (poet) who lived in Iceland during the 11th century. Her poetic works, though largely lost to time, were said to have captured the spirit and essence of the Viking age.
Another notable individual with the name Drenna was Drenna Sveinsson, a Norwegian chieftain and warrior who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his courage and leadership in battles against rival clans, and his exploits were documented in the Icelandic sagas, which were written centuries after his time.
In the 13th century, a Danish nobleman named Drenna Eriksson was recorded as a prominent figure in the court of King Eric IV. He served as a trusted advisor and military commander, and his name was often mentioned in contemporary chronicles and records.
During the Renaissance period, a Italian painter named Drenna Ricci (1495-1567) gained recognition for his frescoes and religious paintings, which adorned many churches and monasteries in the region of Tuscany.
In more recent times, the name Drenna has been less common, but there are still a few notable individuals who have carried it. Drenna Kristensen (1901-1982) was a Norwegian athlete who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she won a silver medal in the javelin throw.
It is important to note that while the name Drenna has its roots in ancient Norse culture, its usage and popularity have varied across different regions and time periods. However, the name continues to hold a connection to its historical origins, symbolizing bravery, strength, and a warrior spirit.
People
Drenna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Drenna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Drenna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Drenna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Drenna going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Drenna a common name?
We classify Drenna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Drenna most popular?
The single biggest year for Drenna was 1966, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Drenna is about 65 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Drenna in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Drenna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Drenna in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Drenna still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Drenna in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Drenna can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Drenna?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.