Laina
Of Arabic origin meaning "gentle and tender".
Name Census estimates that about 3,309 living Americans carry the first name Laina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Laina today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Laina births was 2014 (117 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Laina. 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.
People living today
3.3K
~ 1 in 103,582 Americans
Peak year
2014
117 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,288
Tracked since 1906
Popularity
Laina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Laina from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 970 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Laina remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laina 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 Laina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lainas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 20 states and territories. California, Pennsylvania, Ohio recorded the most babies named Laina, while Washington, Missouri, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 49 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Laina
The name Laina has its origins in the Finnish language and culture. It is derived from the Finnish word "laina," which means "loan" or "borrowed." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in Finland, a region with a rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Laina can be found in the Finnish epic poem "Kalevala," which dates back to the 19th century. The poem is a collection of folklore and mythology from the Finnish and Karelian regions, and it serves as a significant piece of Finnish literary heritage.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Laina. One such person was Laina Talvio (1871-1936), a Finnish writer and journalist known for her novels and short stories that explored themes of Finnish identity and women's rights. Her works were influential in shaping the literary landscape of her time.
Another notable bearer of the name was Laina Leino (1908-1991), a Finnish sculptor and artist. Leino's works often depicted human figures and reflected her interest in the human form and emotions. Her sculptures can be found in various public spaces and museums across Finland.
In the realm of sports, Laina Nurminen (1908-1970) was a Finnish athlete who competed in the discus throw and shot put events. She won a silver medal in the discus throw at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, cementing her place in Finnish sporting history.
Moving to the field of music, Laina Kaarina Kangas (born 1947) is a Finnish singer and actress. She has had a successful career in both the music industry and on stage, performing in various musicals and plays throughout Finland.
Lastly, Laina Lainen (born 1939) is a Finnish former politician who served as a member of the Finnish Parliament from 1975 to 1995. She was actively involved in promoting women's rights and advocating for gender equality during her political career.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Laina throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Finland and beyond.
People
Laina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Laina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Laina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Laina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3,309 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Laina 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 103,582 US residents.
Is Laina a common name?
We classify Laina as "Rare". It ranks above 95.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 3,494 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Laina most popular?
The single biggest year for Laina was 2014, when 117 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Laina is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Laina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Laina 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.
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.