Declining since 2006, #8,362 for girls today.
Popularity of Jolena since 1949
Babies named Jolena per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 30 |
| 1960s | 91 |
| 1970s | 193 |
| 1980s | 188 |
| 1990s | 135 |
| 2000s | 235 |
| 2010s | 209 |
| 2020s | 80 |
Meaning & origin
Jolena is a modern American name that first appeared in Social Security records in 1949. It likely emerged as a blend of the popular prefix Jo and the suffix Lena, following a pattern common in mid-century coinages. The name reached its highest popularity in 1982, but since 2006 its use has been declining. With a rank of 8,362 in 2025, it is an uncommon choice; approximately 1 in every 134,000 newborn girls receives the name. Jolena has never been widely used in any single state, reflecting its scattered and infrequent adoption. Its sound aligns it with names like Jolene and Jolie, while its structure keeps it distinct from more traditional names.
Jolena is a modern coinage, first recorded in the United States in the mid-20th century. It appears to be a combination of the prefix Jo, drawn from names like Josephine or Joanna, and the popular suffix lena, as seen in Helena or Selena. The name gained modest use during the 1970s and 1980s, likely influenced by the similar name Jolene, which was popularized by Dolly Parton's 1973 song.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Lena, Joli
Sibling names for Jolena
Names that share Jolena's style, for a brother or sister.
