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At a Glance
- Origin
- Russian/Gaelic (short form of Svetlana or Alana)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- LAH-nah
Lana is pronounced LAH-nah, and rather than being a standalone name, it's documented as a short form — most often of Svetlana (Russian) or Alana (Gaelic). You may have seen it glossed online as meaning 'light' or 'the bright one,' or even as Hawaiian for 'calm as still waters,' but neither holds up: it isn't from Latin, and the Hawaiian gloss points to an unrelated word rather than this name's actual roots. With its vintage feel, Lana's story is really about the names it borrows from.
Meaning & Origin of Lana
Origin: Russian/Gaelic (short form of Svetlana or Alana).
A common claim: Often said to mean 'light' or 'the bright one' (as if from Latin); a listicle also glosses it as Hawaiian for 'calm as still waters.' Actually: Lana isn't from Latin. It's a short form of Svetlana (Russian) or Alana (Gaelic); any 'light' sense comes only through Svetlana's Slavic root. The Hawaiian 'calm, still waters' gloss belongs to an unrelated word, not this name.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Lana
LAH-nahIPA /ˈlɑːnə/
Popularity of Lana
SSA records go back to 1885, and Lana hit its high point in 1948 at #188, with 1,465 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #374, with 829 babies — still on the books, just far from its mid-century peak.
Names Like Lana
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Lana mean?
Often said to mean ‘light’ or ‘the bright one’ (as if from Latin); a listicle also glosses it as Hawaiian for ‘calm as still waters.’ Lana isn’t from Latin. It’s a short form of Svetlana (Russian) or Alana (Gaelic); any ‘light’ sense comes only through Svetlana’s Slavic root. The Hawaiian ‘calm, still waters’ gloss belongs to an unrelated word, not this name.
How do you pronounce Lana?
Lana is pronounced LAH-nah (IPA: /ˈlɑːnə/).
Is Lana a popular name right now?
Lana peaked at #188 in 1948 and is ranked #374 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1885–2024.)
Make Lana Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lana, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Lana? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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