Elena
Elena is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “bright, shining light.” It ranked #42 in the United States in 2025. A form of Helen, from the Greek Helene, possibly related to helios (sun) or selas (light).
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how do you pronounce Elena?
eh-LAY-nah
where does the name Elena come from?
A form of Helen, from the Greek Ἑλένη, whose derivation is genuinely uncertain. It is often connected to helenē, a word for torch or basket, or to selene, meaning moon, but neither is secure and the name may well predate Greek.
It is popular across Southern and Eastern Europe and has spread widely through the United States.
how popular is this name?
Elena has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 144 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 2. It peaked at #42 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #42 |
| 2024 | #46 |
| 2023 | #47 |
| 2022 | #49 |
| 2021 | #53 |
| 2020 | #55 |
| 2019 | #60 |
| 2018 | #67 |
| 2017 | #68 |
| 2016 | #94 |
| 2010 | #164 |
| 2000 | #234 |
| 1990 | #352 |
| 1980 | #370 |
| 1970 | #433 |
| 1960 | #468 |
| 1950 | #501 |
| 1940 | #598 |
| 1930 | #455 |
| 1920 | #529 |
| 1910 | #503 |
| 1900 | #760 |
| 1890 | #825 |
| 1880 | #628 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Elena fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Elena
Helen of Troy gave the name its oldest and heaviest association, and St Helena, mother of Constantine, gave it a Christian one — she is credited by tradition with locating the True Cross in Jerusalem. Elena is the standard form across Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Russian, and has been continuously used in all of them.
who are famous people named Elena?
- Elena Ferrante
- Elena Gilbert (fictional)
- Elena Delle Donne
what are the nicknames and variants of Elena?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Elena?
what names go well with Elena?
Sibling names that share Elena's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Elena
What does the name Elena mean?
Elena means “bright, shining light”.
What is the origin of the name Elena?
Elena comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Helena, Yelena and Elaine.
How popular is the name Elena?
Elena ranked #42 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #42, and it has spent 144 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Elena a boy or girl name?
Elena is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Elena?
Elena is pronounced eh-LAY-nah, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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