Milena
mih-LAY-nah
Milena derives from the South Slavic root mil meaning “gracious,” “beloved,” or “dear.” The name is an elaborated form of Mila, built with the common Slavic feminine suffix -ena.
The name has been widely used in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, and other Slavic countries for over a century.
Franz Kafka’s relationship with Milena Jesenská — an Austrian writer and journalist — is documented in his published letters to her.
What the name Milena means
Milena ranked No. 786 in 2024 with 358 births. It peaked at No. 678 in 2019 with 428 births, tracing gradual adoption by American families interested in Slavic heritage names.
Czech actress Milena Dravić and Kafka’s correspondent Milena Jesenská are among the most culturally significant bearers. The name also carries visibility through immigration from Eastern Europe.
Three syllables — mih-LEH-nah — are warm and flowing. The middle-syllable stress and soft vowels give it an appealing, musical quality without being ornate.
Parents drawn to Slavic names or to the short form Mila often choose Milena as the full-length formal version. It travels well between cultures without significant mispronunciation.
Related names include Mila, Milana, Milanka, Milenka, and the Italian-Spanish Milano. The root mil also connects to Milan and Miroslav.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Milena
Milena - similar names
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