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Lana

Girl name · 940 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Lana: 940 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 37 births in 2008.

Lana is most commonly a short form of the Slavic Svetlana, meaning “light,” or a Hawaiian name meaning “calm as still waters.” It also appears as a feminine form of the Irish/Scottish Gaelic *lana*, “beauty.” The name gained Hollywood glamour through actress Lana Turner, a screen icon of the 1940s and 1950s, and has been revived more recently by singer Lana Del Rey. In fashion and pop culture, Lana also appears as the sharp-tongued spy Lana Kane in the animated series *Archer*. While not directly tied to a Scottish place, the name shares its Gaelic root with the River Lagan in Northern Ireland. A beloved modern variant is Alana, which adds a lyrical, longer form while keeping the same light, airy feel.