Elena
/e-LAY-nə/
Elena is a girl name of Greek origin, meaning Torch, shining light.
- GenderGirl
- OriginGreek
- StyleClassic
- Syllables3
- US rank#54
What does Elena mean?
Torch, shining light
Elena is the Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Russian form of Helen, from the Greek Helene. The root is usually connected to helene, "torch", or to selene, "moon" - both point to shining.
The story behind the name
Helen of Troy is the origin point: the most beautiful woman in the world, whose abduction launches the Iliad. Christopher Marlowe's line about the face that launched a thousand ships is about her.
The Christian tradition supplies a second and quite different Helena: the mother of Constantine, who travelled to Jerusalem in her seventies and is credited with locating the True Cross.
Elena is one of the most widely distributed names in Europe, current in Italy, Spain, Russia, Romania and Germany simultaneously.
Notable people named Elena
- Helen of Troy
- Saint Helena, mother of Constantine
- Elena Ferrante, novelist
How popular is Elena?
Popularity in the United States
Elena has been given to 85,756 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 423 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Popularity in France
Elena has been given to 3,051 babies in France since 1981, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
Popularity in Spain
There are 160,887 people called Elena living in Spain, with an average age of 38.6.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Helena, Helen, Yelena, Elenor
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Elena
What does the name Elena mean?
Elena means Torch, shining light. It is of Greek origin.
Is Elena a boy's or a girl's name?
Elena is most often given to girls.
How do you pronounce Elena?
Elena is pronounced e-LAY-nə.
How popular is the name Elena?
Elena has been given to 85,756 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Elena?
Common variants include Helena, Helen, Yelena, Elenor.