Sheena is a name of Irish origin, derived from the ancient Gaelic name Siobhán, which means "God is gracious." It is also related to the Hebrew name Sheila, which has a similar meaning of "Requested by God" or "Gift from God."
The name Sheena gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century. It was boosted by its use in various forms of media. One notable example is the character Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, created by comic book artist Matt Baker in the late 1930s. This character was featured in a popular comic strip and later adapted into films, further popularizing the name.
In literature, Sheena also appears as a character in the novel "The Sheik" by E.M. Hull, published in 1919. The story was quite successful and was eventually adapted into several silent films starring Rudolph Valentino.
While not extensively recorded throughout history, the name Sheena has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields. For instance, Sheena Easton is a Scottish singer known for her popular music in the 1980s, while Sheena Brien was an Australian Olympic swimmer who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Overall, the name Sheena carries a positive connotation due to its meaningful origin and its association with strong, independent women. Despite not having a long historical record or a multitude of famous bearers, it has managed to carve out a place for itself in popular culture and continues to be chosen by parents for their daughters today.
The name Sheena has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. According to the data provided, there were a total of 67 babies named Sheena between 1982 and 1989.
In 1982, there were just 5 births with the name Sheena. However, this number increased significantly in the following year, with 10 babies being given the name. The popularity of the name continued to grow, reaching its peak in 1985 with 20 newborns named Sheena.
Interestingly, after the peak in 1985, the popularity of the name began to decline. There were only 8 births in 1986, and then it dropped further to just 5 in 1988. The number of newborn girls named Sheena recovered slightly in 1989 with 7 births.
While the name Sheena may not have maintained consistent popularity throughout these years, its usage as a baby girl's name has shown some fluctuation over time. It is always fascinating to observe how names trend and change in popularity across different decades.