Find out how popular the first name Leana has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Leana by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Leana is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 73 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Leana.

The history of the first name Leana

The name Leana has its roots in the Greek language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is a feminine form derived from the Greek name Leandros, which means "lion man" or "brave as a lion." The name was quite popular in ancient Greece, particularly among the aristocratic classes who valued bravery and strength.

One of the earliest references to the name Leana can be found in the Greek myth of Hero and Leander. Leander was a young man from Abydos who fell in love with Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite from Sestos. Every night, Leander would swim across the Hellespont (now known as the Dardanelles Strait) to meet his beloved. Tragically, he drowned during one of these nightly swims, and Hero took her own life out of grief.

The name Leana gained further prominence during the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD. Several notable figures bore this name, including Leana of Constantinople (c. 900 AD), a noblewoman known for her patronage of the arts and her charitable works.

In the medieval period, the name Leana spread across Europe, particularly in regions influenced by Greek culture and the Eastern Roman Empire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Western Europe can be found in the chronicles of the Frankish Kingdom, where a woman named Leana (c. 650 AD) was mentioned as a courtier in the entourage of King Dagobert I.

During the Renaissance, the name Leana experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy. Leana Baglioni (c. 1480-1557), an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, was a prominent figure of this era. She is remembered for her patronage of the painter Raphael and her involvement in the cultural life of Perugia.

In the 17th century, the name Leana found its way to the New World, carried by Greek immigrants and settlers. One notable bearer of the name was Leana Tsakalou (c. 1650-1720), a Greek-American pioneer who settled in what is now Tarpon Springs, Florida, and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Greek community in the area.

Throughout history, several other notable figures have borne the name Leana, including Leana Durr (1873-1937), an Austrian actress and singer, and Leana Lokko (born 1964), a Ghanaian-Scottish architect and academic.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Leana was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Leana, please contact us.

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