Holding steady, #7,885 for girls today.
Popularity of Vana since 1917
Babies named Vana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 14 |
| 1940s | 78 |
| 1950s | 138 |
| 1960s | 68 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 55 |
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 69 |
| 2020s | 52 |
Meaning & origin
Vana is a short, melodic name with dual potential origins: Sanskrit 'forest' or a Slavic diminutive. First recorded in U.S. data in 1917, it reached its peak rank of 7,885 in 1948, when roughly 1 in 123,636 girls received the name. Since then, it has maintained a stable but extremely low profile, never breaking into common usage. The name's rarity allows for a distinctive choice that can honor either Indian or Eastern European heritage. While no top states cluster around Vana, its simplicity and soft sound fit alongside names like Mila and Nina. Parents considering Vana should be aware that its meaning may be interpreted differently depending on cultural context, and it may require occasional pronunciation guidance.
Vana has two primary etymological strands. In Sanskrit, 'vana' (वन) means 'forest' or 'woodland', appearing in ancient Indian texts. Separately, Vana arises as a diminutive or short form of longer Slavic names such as Ivana (feminine of Ivan, meaning 'God is gracious') or Svetlana ('light'). In modern usage, it may also be a respelling or variant of Vanna, potentially influenced by Italian 'vanna' (a form of Giovanna). The name saw modest usage in the United States from the early 20th century, peaking in the 1940s, and remains rare.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Vana
Names that share Vana's style, for a brother or sister.
