Holding steady.
Popularity of Robena since 1897
Babies named Robena per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Robena's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 12 |
| 1900s | 28 |
| 1910s | 154 |
| 1920s | 171 |
| 1930s | 82 |
| 1940s | 71 |
| 1950s | 34 |
| 1960s | 33 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Robena is a feminine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1897. It reached its peak popularity in 1898, when it ranked among the top 1000 names for that year, though specific rank data is not available. The name has remained stable in usage since then, with very few births recorded in recent decades. Its rarity today makes it an unusual choice, appealing to those who appreciate names from the late Victorian era. While its etymology is not fully certain, it is widely understood as a creative variation of Robert, fitting the pattern of -ena suffixed names like Wilhelmina or Alwena. The name has no significant regional concentration and is not associated with any specific top states.
Robena is a feminine elaboration of Robert, a name of Germanic origin meaning "bright fame." It appears to have been coined in the late 19th century as part of the trend for elaborate feminine forms ending in -ena. The name enjoyed a brief period of use in the 1890s, particularly around 1898, before falling out of common use.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Robbie, Bena, Robi
Sibling names for Robena
Names that share Robena's style, for a brother or sister.
