Lavena
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly Spanish or Native American.
Name Census estimates that about 516 living Americans carry the first name Lavena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lavena today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lavena births was 1922 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lavena. 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
516
~ 1 in 664,253 Americans
Peak year
1922
32 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
2024 SSA rank
#16,573
Tracked since 1892
Popularity
Lavena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lavena from the 1890s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 243 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lavena 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 Lavena during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lavenas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas recorded the most babies named Lavena, while California, Texas, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 23 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lavena
The name Lavena has its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to the second millennium BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "lavanya," which means "beauty" or "grace." The name is closely associated with Hindu culture and mythology.
In Hindu mythology, Lavena is mentioned as one of the names of the goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Parvati is revered as the embodiment of beauty, love, and devotion, and the name Lavena reflects her divine attributes.
The earliest recorded use of the name Lavena can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata. These texts often refer to Lavena as a name for Parvati or as a symbol of feminine grace and elegance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lavena. One such person was Lavena Devi, a prominent Indian freedom fighter who lived from 1905 to 1984. She actively participated in the Indian independence movement and was imprisoned multiple times for her involvement in the struggle against British rule.
Another notable Lavena was Lavena Sukul, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1925 to 2001. She was renowned for her contributions to the revival and promotion of Kathak, one of the major classical dance forms of India.
In the literary world, Lavena Gooriah is a Mauritian writer and poet who was born in 1958. Her works explore themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of the Mauritian diaspora.
Lavena Williams was an American actress and singer who lived from 1916 to 1989. She gained recognition for her performances in Broadway musicals and for her work in the Harlem Renaissance theatre scene.
Lastly, Lavena Felicia Norris was a British artist and illustrator who lived from 1909 to 1999. She is known for her intricate botanical illustrations and her contributions to the field of botanical art.
While the name Lavena is relatively uncommon in modern times, its historical and cultural significance remains deeply rooted in the ancient Sanskrit language and Hindu mythology, representing beauty, grace, and feminine divinity.
People
Lavena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lavena 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
Lavena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lavena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 516 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lavena 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 664,253 US residents.
Is Lavena a common name?
We classify Lavena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,218 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lavena most popular?
The single biggest year for Lavena was 1922, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lavena is about 54 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lavena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lavena 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.