
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Xena
Xena is a modern and edgy name of Ukrainian and Greek origin, meaning a guest or a stranger. The name is a shortened form of Xenia, which signifies ‘hospitality’ in the Greek language. The term is derived from ‘xenos.’ Xenos points to a foreigner or a guest. A related Russian term is Zena, meaning ‘hospitable’ or ‘belonging to Zeus.’ Several Greek and Ukrainian terms starting with ‘Xe’ signify a guest or someone unknown. They also point to welcoming someone.
Since Xena is a derivative of other Greek terms, it does not have a direct historical significance. However, Xenia was the name of a fifth-century saint, Xenia the Righteous of Rome, venerated by Christian churches like Orthodox and Catholic ones. Born Eusebia, she was the only daughter of a wealthy Roman senator. As per written records, helped and comforted everyone from the destitute to those stricken by grief or seeking repentance.
The name has many variants in Greek, Bulgarian, Croatian, Russian, and Ukrainian languages and cultures. In Greek, it is Xeni and Xenia, Aksinia in Bulgarian, and Ksenija and Senka in Croatian. In Russian language, people use several variations such as Aksinia, Ksyusha, Aksinya, and Oxana. The Ukrainian language has Ksenia, Oxana, Oksana, and Kseniya variations.
Xena is also the name of the American R&B singer Lisa Fischer, known for her song ‘On the Upside.’ Moreover, Greek mythology appears in American popular culture in various ways. Two popular comedy adventure shows, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, depict Greek myths in different ways. Xena in The Warrior Princess portrays a strong woman who defies stereotypical gender roles and succeeds due to her martial prowess. This television series was popular in the 1990s, leading to a massive increase in the name’s usage from 1994 to 1996.
How To Pronounce Xena?
Xena On The Popularity Chart
Check the graphs below to understand how the popularity and ranking of the name has changed over the years.
Xena Popularity Over Time
The name’s popularity went up in 1996. It remained steady till 1997 but after that witnessed a steep decline. However, from 2011, we can see that it has experienced a revival. Check the graph to learn more about the trend.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
From 1996 to 1997, Xena was a top baby name, ranking below 1000. However, in 2021, its rank was 1,237. The graph below represents the data.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Xena
Xena rolls out of the mouth quite easily. If you like its sound, you may also love the following options. Check them out.
Names With Similar Meaning As Xena
Want more names that have a meaning similar to Xena? You can explore the ones in the list below.
Name Numerology For Xena


