Mena (name)

Mena is both a Basque^[1][2][3][4] and Sephardic^[5][6] surname and a feminine given name.

Basque meaning

Found in the valley of Mena (Alava, which today is Burgos), with branches in Bilbao and in Dima (Biscay) and it appears to have also moved from there into Navarre. It appears to mean mineral or a vein of mineral deposits, however at least one author, Lopez Mendizabal, holds that its meaning is pastoral.

Notable people with the name

Surname:

• Carlos Mena, Spanish countertenor
• Luis Mena Irarrázabal, Chilean footballer
• Juanjo Mena, Spanish conductor
• Luis Mena, Former President of Nicaragua
• Eugenio Mena, Chilean footballer
• Javiera Mena, Chilean pop singer
• Juan de Mena, Spanish Renaissance poet
• Maria Mena, Norwegian pop singer
• Odlanier Mena, Chilean general
• Pedro de Mena, Spanish sculptor in the 17th century

Given name:

• Mena Suvari, American actress
• Mena Trott, co-founder of Six Apart

References