Alena vs Barbara

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Alena

Girl #749 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"bright, shining light"

Origin: Greek via Slavic

Cultural Roots

Czech Slovak Russian German Polish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#749
Total SSA Count
375
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Alenka, Lena, Allie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Alena →

Barbara

Girl #860 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"foreign woman, stranger"

Origin: Greek barbaros

Cultural Roots

English American German Italian Spanish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#860
Total SSA Count
313
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Barb, Barbie, Babs

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Barbara →

Popularity Comparison

Alena Rank #749
Barbara Rank #860

Alena is more popular, ranked #749 vs #860 for Barbara.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Alena ___

  • Alena Rose
  • Alena Grace
  • Alena Marie
  • Alena Claire
  • Alena Jane
  • Alena Sofia

Barbara ___

  • Barbara Ann
  • Barbara Jean
  • Barbara Lee
  • Barbara Lynn
  • Barbara Kay
  • Barbara Jane

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Alena

Elena Katarina Marta Petra Lukas

If you choose Barbara

Patricia Nancy Linda Judith Robert

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alena or Barbara more popular?

Alena is more popular, ranked #749 compared to Barbara at #860 in the United States.

What do Alena and Barbara mean?

Alena means "bright, shining light" (Greek via Slavic origin). Barbara means "foreign woman, stranger" (Greek barbaros origin).

Are Alena and Barbara boy or girl names?

Alena is primarily a girl name. Barbara is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Alena ← Full profile: Barbara Browse all baby names