Elna is a unique and captivating female given name of Scandinavian origin. It is derived from the Old Norse word "álfr," which means elf or fairy. In Scandinavian mythology, elves were supernatural beings known for their beauty, wisdom, and magical powers.
The name Elna has been popular among Scandinavian families for centuries, but it gained international recognition in the mid-20th century when Finnish composer Jean Sibelius dedicated his symphonic suite "Karelia" to a young girl named Elna. The piece was commissioned by the Karelia Society of Finland and premiered in 1907.
Over time, Elna has become associated with creativity, grace, and enchantment due to its mythological origins and connection to Sibelius's musical masterpiece. Today, it continues to be a beloved name among families looking for something distinctive yet meaningful for their daughters.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe trends and patterns regarding the name Elna over time in the United States.
The name Elna first appeared in significant numbers in the late 1880s to early 1890s with around 5-13 births per year between 1883 and 1896. During this period, there was a gradual increase in popularity, reaching a peak of 26 births in 1894.
However, the early 1900s saw a decline in popularity for the name Elna, with fewer than 50 births per year between 1901 and 1913. This low remained relatively stable until the late teens to mid-1920s when there was another surge in popularity, peaking at around 173 births in 1917.
Post-World War II era witnessed a steady decrease in popularity for Elna, with fewer than 50 births per year from 1946 onwards. The lowest point occurred between the late 1940s to mid-1950s where there were less than 35 births annually.
Since then, Elna has remained quite uncommon as a baby name in America, with fewer than ten births reported each year since the 1970s. However, recent years have shown some slight resurgence, with around 10-13 births recorded between 2019 and 2022.
In total, there have been 4459 births of girls named Elna in the United States throughout history (as per provided data). This statistic reflects how Elna's popularity has ebbed and flowed over time but remained a relatively uncommon name overall.