Serena is a female given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "serenus," which means "clear" or "tranquil." The name Serena has been used throughout history, with notable figures bearing this name including Serena Williams, the famous tennis player, and Serena Ryder, a Canadian singer-songwriter.
The name Serena gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century. It has consistently ranked among the top 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States since the 1960s. In recent years, it has even made its way into the top 500 names for girls in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
There is no specific day of the year dedicated to the name Serena. However, some cultures may celebrate the feast day of Saint Serena on November 1st. Saint Serena was a Christian martyr who died during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Maximian in the early 4th century. Despite this association with a saint, it is important to note that the name Serena itself does not have any religious significance.
In literature and popular culture, the name Serena has appeared in various works throughout history. For instance, it was used as one of the main characters' names in George Eliot's novel "Scenes of Clerical Life" published in 1858. More recently, it has been used as a character name in popular TV shows such as "Pretty Little Liars" and "Gossip Girl."
Overall, Serena is a timeless and elegant name with roots tracing back to ancient Rome. Its meaning "clear" or "tranquil" lends itself well to someone who embodies calmness and clarity. Despite not having an official feast day or any specific personality traits associated with it, the name Serena continues to be popular among parents looking for a classic yet unique name for their daughter.
The name Serena has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century and a half. Between 1880 and 1903, there were fewer than 20 births per year with the name Serena, reaching as low as single digits some years.
However, starting from 1904, we begin to see a steady increase in the number of babies named Serena each year. This trend continued throughout the early to mid-20th century, with some fluctuations but an overall upward trajectory.
The turning point came in the late 1960s and early 1970s when there was a significant spike in popularity for the name Serena. In 1968, there were 203 births, followed by peaks of 444 in 1975 and 507 in 1977.
The peak popularity of the name Serena continued into the early 1980s, with over 600 births recorded each year between 1980 and 1983. However, after this period, there was a decline in its popularity, dropping to around 450-500 births per year throughout much of the late 20th century.
Despite this decrease, Serena remained relatively stable in popularity compared to other names during this time. From the mid-1990s onwards, there has been another rise in the number of babies named Serena each year, reaching a peak of 831 births in 1995.
Since then, the popularity of the name has fluctuated but remained relatively high, with over 600 births per year between 2000 and 2014. In recent years, there has been another increase in its popularity, with over 700 births recorded each year from 2012 to 2023.
In total, since the first record of the name Serena in the United States in 1880, there have been approximately 45,554 babies named Serena born in the country.