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Leni

Girl name · 21 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Leni: 21 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 2025.

Leni is most familiar as a short form of Helena, Magdalena or Lena, with Helena deriving from the Greek helene, meaning “torch” or “light,” while Magdalena traces back to the Hebrew for “of Magdala.” It gained international recognition through German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, though her legacy is deeply controversial. More contemporary bearers include Filipino politician Leni Robredo and model Leni Klum. There is no strong place connection, though the name shares a root with the Scottish island of Lismore—unrelated etymologically but linked in sound. In Scotland, Leni has been used as a standalone name since the early 2000s, often chosen as a fresh yet familiar alternative to Lena or Helen, and it remains particularly popular in German-speaking countries.