
The short answer
Lana is a feminine name used in English and Russian. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Short form of Alana (English) or Svetlana (Russian). In the English-speaking world it was popularized by actress Lana Turner (1921-1995), who was born Julia Jean Turner." It ranked #406 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, short form of Alana (English) or Svetlana (Russian). In the English-speaking world it was popularized by actress Lana Turner (1921-1995), who was born Julia Jean Turner. The entry lists its usage as English, Russian, Croatian, Slovene and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Lana ranked #406 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #406 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Lana in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lana mean?
Behind the Name does not give Lana a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: short form of Alana.
Is Lana a popular name?
Lana ranked #406 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Lana a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Lana appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lana — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.