Nena
little girl or baby girl (Spanish)
Nena is a spanish / filipino girl name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 339, with 23,843 records. It has 2 syllables.
Origin and meaning
little girl or baby girl (Spanish)
The name Nena originated in Spain as a pet name meaning 'little girl' or as a diminutive for female names ending in -na or -lena. In the Philippines, it became widely used during the Spanish colonial and early American periods both as an official given name and a ubiquitous household nickname.
Derived from the Spanish vocabulary word 'nena' meaning 'little girl' or 'baby girl', which also serves as a common Spanish hypocoristic for names like Elena or Magdalena. In the Philippines, it evolved from an affectionate nickname into a standalone registered given name.
Name character
In the Philippines
Commonly given to older generations of Filipinas, often as an official registered name or as a universal family nickname for eldest daughters or youngest girls in the household.
Related forms
- Nena Spanish
Would your family give Nena?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Nena for 2026 yet.
Nena with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related girl names
About the name Nena
How do I use Nena with two Filipino surnames?
Nena is the given name. The full name is Nena + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Nena a common girl name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Nena is number 339, with 23,843 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.