Ladena
A girl's name of African origin with 430 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
When Ladena hit its peak of 19 births in 1970, American naming was shifting away from mid-century classics toward more individualistic, expressive choices.
Today, Ladena reads as a name tied to a specific era — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
Ladena is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Ladena is a girl's baby name of African origin, a creative name developed in African American communities, combining the La- prefix with -dena (a peaceful suffix found in place names like Pasadena, meaning 'valley' in Chippewa).
Ladena has a flowing, tranquil quality — three syllables with open, sunny vowels that feel both warm and peaceful. It carries the creative spirit of African American naming traditions with a sound that feels effortlessly natural.
EtymologyShow more
Ladena is built from 6 letters and three syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the African naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Ladena creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Multi-syllable names often carry remnants of compound constructions — two or more meaningful elements fused together — even when the original components are no longer transparent to modern speakers.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ladena has 48+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1922.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 51 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 108 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 126 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 81 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 33 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 11 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 5 | — |
The Story of Ladena
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Ladena is a Gen X staple. Girls named Ladena are most likely born between 1960 and 1980.
How rare is Ladena?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Ladena is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1922, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1960s with 126 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Ladena by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Ladena per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(48 years, 1922–1993)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 5 | #14680 |
| 1992 | 5 | #14455 |
| 1990 | 5 | #14163 |
| 1989 | 6 | #11614 |
| 1985 | 8 | #7945 |
| 1984 | 5 | #11297 |
| 1983 | 8 | #7668 |
| 1982 | 10 | #6608 |
| 1981 | 8 | #7771 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9702 |
| 1979 | 9 | #7019 |
| 1978 | 7 | #8085 |
| 1977 | 8 | #7214 |
| 1976 | 8 | #6937 |
| 1975 | 16 | #4035 |
| 1974 | 8 | #6548 |
| 1973 | 12 | #4699 |
| 1972 | 13 | #4410 |
| 1971 | 8 | #6310 |
| 1970 | 19 | #3366 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ladena a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ladena most popular?
How popular is the name Ladena?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1922–1993