Rhena

Meaning & origin

Rhena is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1914, but it has never achieved any rank among the top 1000 names. Its peak year of recorded usage was 1914, the same year it first appeared, and it has remained consistently uncommon ever since. According to Social Security data, the name has shown a stable trajectory with no significant revival, and no state has recorded enough births for Rhena to appear in annual top-state lists. Because of its rarity, the 1-in-N statistic is not available. Rhena is typically considered a modern English name, likely a respelling of Rena or a variation of names like Serena, though its exact etymology is uncertain. Parents drawn to this name may appreciate its soft sound and uncommon status, making it a distinctive choice for a girl.

Rhena likely emerged as a modern coinage, possibly as a respelling of Rena or Rina, or as a feminine formation influenced by names like Irena and Serena. Its first recorded use in the United States was in 1914, but it has never achieved widespread popularity, remaining a rare choice throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.