Girl
English / Arabic
2 syllables
Jenna
JEN-uh
/ˈdʒɛn.ə/
"Fair and smooth" — a breezy modern name with Welsh roots and effortless appeal
Jenna is primarily used as a short form of Jennifer, which derives from the Cornish form of the Welsh Gwenhwyfar meaning fair and smooth. It can also be traced to the Arabic Jannah meaning paradise or heaven. Jenna rose to prominence in the 1980s, partly through the popular TV soap opera Dallas, and remained a staple name through the 1990s, associated with a friendly, approachable image.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesJen · na
GenderGirl
OriginEnglish / Arabic
Root WordJennifer / Jannah
MeaningFair and smooth; Heaven
PopularityEstablished
Peak Year1988
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayJuly 24
Nicknames
JenJenny
About the Name Jenna
Jenna is primarily a form of Jennifer, meaning fair and smooth from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar. It also resonates with the Arabic Jannah meaning paradise.
Yes, Jenna is commonly used as a short form of Jennifer, though it has long been given as a standalone name in its own right.
Jenna peaked in the US around 1988 and remained popular through the 1990s. It is now declining but still familiar and well-liked.
Yes. Jenna consistently rates as approachable, warm, and likeable in name perception studies — a name that feels open and easy to connect with.
Jenna Marie, Jenna Rose, and Jenna Grace are popular combinations. Jenna Louise and Jenna Nicole are also smooth and pleasing.
Both are informal forms of Jennifer. Jenny has older roots as a medieval diminutive, while Jenna is a more modern standalone form that gained popularity in the late 20th century.
Personality of Jenna
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Jenna
Creativity
70%
Elegance
66%
Independence
72%
Intelligence
72%
Strength
66%
Warmth
88%
Famous People Named Jenna
J
Jenna Coleman
British actress known for playing Clara Oswald in Doctor Who and Queen Victoria in Victoria
J
Jenna Elfman
American actress known for the sitcom Dharma & Greg
J
Jenna Bush Hager
American journalist and co-host of Today, daughter of President George W. Bush
Middle Names for Jenna
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Jenna
Jenna Marie
Jenna Lynn
Jenna Rose
Jenna Nicole
Jenna Grace
Jenna Louise
Jenna Paige
Jenna Anne
Jenna Kay
Jenna Lee
Names Similar to Jenna
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Jenna
1970s
Jenna emerges as a standalone name and short form of Jennifer in the US
1978
The character Jenna Wade appears in Dallas, bringing the name to prime-time television
1988
Jenna peaks in US popularity, ranking in the top 50 girl names
2000s
Jenna remains popular but begins a gradual decline as fresher names emerge
Numerology & Symbolism of Jenna
8
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Gemini
3
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Sky Blue
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🌸
Lucky Flower
Daisy
Jenna Around the World
How Jenna is written in different languages and scripts
جينا
Arabic
ジェナ
Japanese
Дженна
Russian
제나
Korean
珍娜
Chinese
Τζένα
Greek
जेना
Hindi
ג'נה
Hebrew
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