The name Jenna is a girl's name of English, Welsh origin meaning "white shadow, white wave". Jenna is ranked #386 on our popularity charts and is often added to lists like Names That Mean Water and discussed in our forums with posts like "drop your least favourite w randomly generated names - girls with middles".
From the experts:
Jenna was first noted on the 1980s TV series Dallas, later associated with one of the First Twin Daughters. Jenna is still being used, but no longer feels much fresher than Jennifer. You can also spell it Jena, but then many people will pronounce it jeen-a, as in Gina.
Jenna in Blog Posts
Comments
Armor Says:
Armor Says:
It sounds a bit like Jenna Jameson... look her up.
Thepandaprincess223 Says:
I think that the name Jenna is really sweet. I don't associate this name as a short version or nick name for Jennifer, because I think it is nicer! Jenna is still being used, it made the top US 300 and just on a whole nice. I think a cute sin set with Jenna in it is Jenna Grace (Grace being a middle) and Polly Noelle, (Noelle being her middle name)
Linny Says:
What do you think about Jenna James (James being her middle name)? Tia
Lola Says:
/:
Bobcat108 Says:
This is pretty definitively a mid/late '80s–mid/late '90s name.
Zelliew Says:
Both are nice but I agree Gemma is nicer
babymagic Says:
Straight out of the 80's clearance aisle. Lovely meaning though.
TaliaCat Says:
Pretty, feminine name... Much nicer than Jennifer
Jenna Says:
Jenna also can mean "little bird".
jordalini Says:
I much prefer Gemma, it is fresher, and still has the same feel.
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This name was pretty popular in the late 80s and 90s. It's actually my niece's name. My sister and her husband care a lot about meanings, and they found that Jenna was actually a very diverse name, with dozens of meanings. Shadow, ghost, wave, bird (any of the prior with an optional "white" added to the beginning), fair lady, and peaceful. Peaceful is the Japanese meaning, which isn't very popular, but I think it should be. It is thought of as overused because of a few decades ago, but now it is actually not very popular, and was never more popular than names like Rebecca, Crystal, or Kaitlyn. Even in the 80s and 90s.