Gender: Feminine
Origin: Bulgarian
Meaning: “peony”

The name is derived from the Bulgarian word ablen meaning “peony.”

The name was popularized by Bulgarian writer, Yordon Yovkov, for his drama Albena (1930).

Albena is also the name of a resort town in northeastern Bulgaria, just right off the Black Sea. The area was named for the Yovkov character.

It is borne by Bulgarian ice dancer, Albena Denkova (b. 1974).