Tena

Updated: January 17, 2022 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Tena is a classic baby name for girls. Although short in length, this name has a universal flair that results in its use everywhere from Ecuador to Ethiopia. Tena is the name of a beloved golden retriever in the Paw Patrol series, and Tena Valley is a historic province near the Pyrenees in Spain. Keep reading to learn more about this name.

Meaning of the name Tena:

Greek, Slovene, Croatian: Late summer, harvest time
Old Latin: strong, vigorous, healthy, Christian
Old English: River

Origin of the name Tena:

Tena is a feminine name with several possible origins. In Eastern Europe, Tena is the diminutive of Terezija. This name is the Slavic version of Theresa. The name derives from the Greek word θέρος (meaning “late summer”) or θερίζω (meaning “harvest time”).

Tena is also an alternative spelling of Tina. The name Tina is a short form of Latin given names like Christina and Valentina. Christina originates from the Latin epithet Christianus (meaning “follower of Christ”), and Valentina derives from Valentinus (meaning “strong” or “healthy”). The Tena variation remains popular in countries with Latin-based languages throughout the world. Finally, Tena can also derive from the Anglo-Saxon word tyne (meaning “river”).

Symbolism of the name Tena:

Tena is the Eastern European diminutive of the Greek name Theresa (meaning “late summer” or “harvest time.” During the height of the classical era, the Greek symbol of the harvest was the cornucopia.