Elena is a popular girl’s baby name that is commonly used all over the world. Elena ranks in the top 100 baby names in more than 26 countries worldwide. Derived from the Greek name Helen the name means “bright, shining light”.

Meaning of the name Elena:

Pan-European: torch, bright, shining light, moon

Origin of the name Elena:

Elena is a pan-European version of the Greek name Helen. This name is widely used across Europe in countries like England, Wales, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Russia as well as the US.

Symbolism of the name Elena:

The name Elena is associated with a bright, shining light that provides guidance for those that are lost in the darkness.

baby name Elena

Style of the name Elena:

traditional

Gender of the name Elena:

Elena is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Elena:

ə-LAY-nə, EHL-ə-nə (English), EH-leh-na (Italian, German), eh-LEH-na (Spanish), yi-LYEH-nə, i-LYEH-nə (Russian)

Number of syllables in the name Elena:

three

Emotion evoked from the name Elena:

Elena evokes feelings of maturity and grace.

Alternative spellings for the name Elena:

Yelena, Elaina, Alaina, Elayna

Nicknames for the name Elena:

Popularity of the name Elena:

According to the Social Security Administration, Elena has been a common name in the US since 1900 but popularity has steadily increased over time. The name has been in the top 100 since 2016.

Related names for the name Elena:

Great middle names for the name Elena and their meanings:

Famous people with the name Elena:

  • Elena Kagan (American associate judge to the Supreme Court)
  • Elena Ferrante (Italian novelist)
  • Elena Anaya (Spanish actress)
  • Elena Berezhnaya (Russian figure skater)
  • Elena Liashenko (Russianfigure skater)

Elenas in popular culture:

  • Elena Gilbert (media, The Vampire Diaries series)
  • Elena (film, “2001: A Space Odyssey”)
  • Elena Lincoln (media, Fifty Shades of Grey series)
  • Elena (video games, “Street Fighter III”)
  • Elena Castillo Flores (television, “Elena of Avelor”)