You may think of it as a nickname for Jennifer, but for the last few decades, Jenna has become a given name in its own right. A popular 1980s TV show character played by one of the most famous ex-wives in the world helped give the name a big boost on the charts. A president's daughter helped it stay there for a few extra years. For many parents of baby girls, Jenna is a fresh, fun version of Jennifer and its many nicknames and derivatives.
Meaning of the name Jenna:
English: Fair one
Welsh: Fair and smooth
Origin of the name Jenna:
Jenna is a derivative of the English name Jennifer, which is a derivative of the Welsh name Guinevere.
Symbolism of the name Jenna:
Guinevere, the name that eventually inspired Jenna, was the wife of and queen of King Arthur. According to Arthurian legend, she represents beauty, loyalty and betrayal.
Style of the name Jenna:
Modern
Gender of the name Jenna:
Jenna is a girl's baby name.
Pronunciation of the name Jenna:
JEN-ah
Number of syllables in the name Jenna:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Jenna:
Jenna evokes the image of a friendly and outgoing person.
Alternative spellings for the name Jenna:
N/A
Nicknames for the name Jenna:
- Jen
- Jenny
Popularity of the name Jenna:
Jenna first made the list of the top 1,000 baby girl names in the United States in 1971. By 1984, it skyrocketed to the top 100. As of 2020, it ranks at number 548, according to the Social Security Administration.
Related names for the name Jenna:
Great middle names for Jenna and their meanings:
- Rose (flower)
- Grace (God's grace)
- Elizabeth (pledged to God)
- Margaret (pearl)
- Faye (fairy)
- Eve (life)
- Frances (free man)
- Louise (famous warrior)
- Kate (pure)
Famous people with the name Jenna:
- JennaHager (TV host, author and daughter of President George W. Bush)
- Jenna Fischer (actress)
- Jenna Elfman (actress)
- Jenna Dewan (actress)
- Jenna McCorkell (figure skater)
Jennas in popular culture:
- Jenna Wade (character on the TV show “Dallas”)
- Jenna Sommers (character on the TV show “The Vampire Diaries”)
- Jenna Middleon (character on the TV show “Degrassi: The Next Generation”)
- Jenna Marshall (character on the TV show “Pretty Little Liars”)
- Jenna (character in the movie “Balto”)