Senna
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "bush" or "bramble".
Name Census estimates that about 1,058 living Americans carry the first name Senna. It is a predominantly female name (91.3% of registrations). The average person named Senna today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Senna births was 2023 (112 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Senna. 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
- • Senna is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 12 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 323,964 Americans
Peak year
2023
112 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,002
Tracked since 1944
Gender
Gender distribution for Senna
Senna leans heavily female at 91.3% of total registrations, but 93 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Senna as a male name
- Ranked #6,742 in 2024
- 13 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (13 births)
Senna as a female name
- Ranked #2,002 in 2024
- 98 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (106 births)
Popularity
Senna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Senna from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 437 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
Senna 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 Senna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sennas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. California, Florida, New York recorded the most babies named Senna, while Arizona, Wisconsin, Washington recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 20 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Senna
The name Senna has its roots in the Arabic language, with origins dating back to the 7th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "sana," which means "beauty" or "brilliance." The name was particularly popular among Muslim communities across the Middle East and North Africa during the medieval period.
Historically, the name Senna has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest recorded instances was Senna ibn Malik, a renowned Arab poet and scholar who lived in the 8th century. His poetic works and literary contributions significantly influenced Arabic literature during the Abbasid era.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Senna was Senna al-Mulk, a powerful vizier and statesman in the Seljuk Empire during the 11th century. He played a crucial role in the administration and governance of the empire, leaving a lasting impact on the political landscape of the time.
In the realm of religion, Senna al-Darani was a revered Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the 9th century. His teachings and writings on Islamic spirituality and mysticism earned him a widespread following across the Islamic world.
Moving into the modern era, Senna Gammour was a celebrated Algerian novelist and playwright of the 20th century. Born in 1924, his works explored themes of identity, colonialism, and the struggles of the Algerian people, making him a prominent voice in Algerian literature.
Lastly, one of the most renowned figures associated with the name Senna is Ayrton Senna, the legendary Brazilian Formula One racing driver. Born in 1960, he was a three-time world champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential drivers in the history of motorsports. His skill, passion, and determination on the racetrack inspired millions of fans worldwide.
While the name Senna has its origins in Arabic, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained popularity across various regions and communities throughout history. Its association with notable figures in literature, politics, religion, and sports has contributed to its enduring legacy and significance.
People
Senna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Senna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Senna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Senna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,058 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Senna 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 323,964 US residents.
Is Senna a common name?
We classify Senna as "Rare". It ranks above 90.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,074 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Senna most popular?
The single biggest year for Senna was 2023, when 112 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Senna is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Senna a female name?
Yes, 91.3% of people registered as Senna 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.