Daily AncestorLena
Lena was a nickname for Magdalen, Helen, Caroline or Angeline in American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Lena is the ending of several names used on its own, among them Magdalen, Helen, Caroline and Angeline. It was also given as a full name.
Many records were made with the name a person went by, so look for Lena as well as Magdalen in indexes. Check other details before treating them as one woman. Because Lena served for more than one name, see which full name the same woman carries in other records.
As seen in a record1880 census; her 1867 baptism calls her Magdalen
Lena Frisbie, Daughter, 13, At school
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Lena." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/lena. Last checked 2026-10-15.