Given name & surname · also Sanskrit
Meena
Meena is used as a given name and a surname. One Hindi interpretation is “resembling a fish; in Hinduism, the daughter of the goddess Usha.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hindi interpretation is “resembling a fish; in Hinduism, the daughter of the goddess Usha.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Sanskrit.
How it developed
The name draws on Sanskrit mina, meaning “fish”.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1965. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Meena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,592
- 12 boys · 1,580 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 54 babies
- 2025
- 40
- #3,749 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +5%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 40 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,749 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 4.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,894 as a first name in 2020; 262 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Meena’s family of names
In English usage, Meena has a related form in Mina. In English usage, Meena has a related form in Minah. Meena has a related form in Meana.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Meena
- Meena KumariIndian actress and poet (1933-1972)
- Meena Keshwar KamalAfghan activist (1956–1987)
- Meena KandasamyIndian poetborn 1984
- Meena Alexanderpoet, scholar, and writer (1951-2018)
- Meena Shahbadminton player1937–2015
- Meena Allymedia personalityborn 1993
- Meena SharmaIndian journalistborn 1984
- Meena GaneshIndian actress1942–2024
- Meena MahajanPh.D. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras 1993
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Meena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Uma
“Mother” · “O do not”
>99% girls
Aditi
Aditi is used as a given name. One Hindi interpretation is “unbound; limitless; in Hinduism, the goddess of consciousness, the sky, and fertility.”
>99% girls
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is used as a given name. One Hindi interpretation is “a good omen; in Hinduism, the goddess of wealth, light, and beauty.”
>99% girls
Sati
Sati is used as a given name and a surname. One Hindi interpretation is “one who speaks the truth; in Hinduism, a goddess.”
>99% girls
Annapurna
“in Hinduism, the goddess of plenty”
>99% girls
Diti
“in Hinduism, an earth goddess”
>99% girls
Radha
Radha carries several Sanskrit naming contexts, including the central figure of a major devotional poem.
>99% girls
Dharani
“a minor goddess”
>99% girls