Rising since 1985, #6,325 for girls today.
Popularity of Svetlana since 1967
Babies named Svetlana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 21 |
| 1970s | 61 |
| 1980s | 17 |
| 1990s | 154 |
| 2000s | 292 |
| 2010s | 246 |
| 2020s | 137 |
Meaning & origin
Svetlana, a name meaning 'light' in Slavic languages, has been in use in the United States since 1967, when it first appeared in Social Security records. It reached its peak popularity in 2007, reflecting a broader interest in Slavic names during that period. Despite a decline since then, the name has seen a resurgence from 1985 onward, climbing in ranks gradually. The name is relatively rare, with about 1 in 89,293 newborns receiving it in 2025. Svetlana is a classic choice among families with Eastern European heritage, though it remains uncommon across most U.S. states.
Svetlana is a Slavic name derived from the elements svet or svetlo, meaning 'light' or 'blessed light.' It was popularized in the early 19th century by the Russian poet Vasily Zhukovsky, who used it in a ballad. The name has been common in Russia and other Slavic countries, often given to girls born during the Soviet era.
“Svetlana” around the world
Where Svetlana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sveta, Lana, Svetochka
Variants: Svetlana, Sviatlana, Swietlana
Sibling names for Svetlana
Names that share Svetlana's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Natalia, Tatiana, Olga, Irina, Katerina, Czarina, Inessa, Miroslava, Nadina, Nastasia, Nastassja, Natashia, Natasia, Natassia, Tatia, Tatjana, Tatyana, Yulia, Danila, Ludmila, Natassja, Yury, Nastacia, Nastashia, Netasha, Zhanna
Brothers: Dmitri, Alexei, Nikolai, Vladimir, Mikhail, Boris, Christo, Dmitriy, Igor, Kirill, Konstantin, Maksim, Nicholai, Serge, Vitaliy, Filimon, Stanislav, Yuriy, Vasily, Vitali, Yaroslav
