Volena
A feminine name of Slavic origin meaning "will" or "volition".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Volena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Volena today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Volena births was 1916 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Volena. 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 Volena is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Volenas were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Volena. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1916
7 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1942 SSA rank
#4,111
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Volena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Volena from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 12 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
Volena 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 Volena 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 Volena
The name Volena is believed to have originated from the Latin language, with its roots dating back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "volens," which means "willing" or "voluntary." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to those who were perceived as having a strong will or determination.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Volena can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a woman by that name in his work "Annals." However, details about this individual are scarce, and her significance remains uncertain.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Volena seems to have fallen out of widespread use, likely due to the decline of Latin as a commonly spoken language. It was not until the Renaissance period that the name experienced a resurgence, particularly in Italy and other regions influenced by the revival of classical literature and culture.
One notable figure who bore the name Volena was an Italian noblewoman from the 15th century. Volena Tornabuoni was a member of the influential Tornabuoni family of Florence and was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the renowned Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli.
Another historical figure with the name Volena was a French aristocrat from the 17th century. Volena de La Tour d'Auvergne was a member of the prestigious House of La Tour d'Auvergne and played a significant role in the political and social circles of her time.
In the 19th century, the name Volena gained some popularity among certain literary circles. One notable example was Volena Ambrosia, an Italian poet and writer who was celebrated for her passionate and evocative works exploring themes of love and nature.
Moving into the 20th century, the name Volena continued to be used, albeit rarely. One notable bearer was Volena Vosper, a British actress and singer who appeared in several stage productions and films during the 1940s and 1950s.
While the name Volena has never been widely popular, it has maintained a presence throughout history, carrying with it a sense of strength, determination, and a connection to the rich cultural heritage of ancient Rome.
People
Volena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Volena as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Volena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Volena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Volena 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Volena a common name?
We classify Volena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 29 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Volena most popular?
The single biggest year for Volena was 1916, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Volena is about 87 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 Volena in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Volena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Volena 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 Volena still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Volena 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 Volena 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 are called Volena?
You can see how many people share the name Volena on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.