Robena is a unique and captivating name of unknown origin and uncertain meaning. While some sources suggest it may be a variant spelling of the Welsh name Roberta or a diminutive form of the Italian name Roberta, others propose that it could be of Hebrew origin, meaning " brightness" or "light". However, there is no definitive evidence to support any of these claims.
Despite its mysterious origins, Robena has been used as a given name for centuries. One of the earliest known references to the name appears in a 13th-century document from Scotland, where it is recorded as Robyne. Throughout history, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Robina, Roberta, and even Robenah.
Robena's obscurity makes it difficult to trace its history or track its popularity over time. It has never been among the most common names in any country, but it has been used consistently throughout history, often as a pet name or diminutive form of longer names like Roberta or Robinson.
In literature and popular culture, Robena appears occasionally as a character's name. For example, there is a character named Robena in George du Maurier's 1894 novel "Trilby," and the American blues singer Robert Pete Williams recorded a song called "Robina" in the 1960s.
In conclusion, Robena is an enigmatic and intriguing name with uncertain origins and meanings. While its popularity has never been widespread, it has been used consistently throughout history as a unique and captivating given name.
The given statistics present the annual occurrences of the name Robena over a span of several decades in the United States. Starting from 1897 with 5 births, there was an increase and decrease in popularity over time.
From 1898 to 1928, the number of babies named Robena ranged between 9 and 21 births per year, with peaks in 1914 (17 births), 1920 (29 births), and 1925 (20 births). After 1928, there was a noticeable decrease in popularity, with fewer than 10 births each year until the 1960s.
The name Robena experienced another brief resurgence between 1963 and 1964, with 11 births in 1963 and 8 births in 1964. However, it was not enough to maintain consistent popularity as the statistics show only a few occurrences thereafter.
Overall, the name Robena had its moments of popularity, but it never became widespread or maintained continuous popularity over extended periods.