Elena
Elena is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Bright, shining light, or torch.
Origin and history
Elena is a classic female name of Greek origin, derived from Helen, meaning 'bright' or 'shining light'. It has long been popular across European languages and has recently surged into the top 50 girl names in the United States. Its soft, melodic cadence gives it timeless international appeal.
Popularity in the United States
108,013 babies in the United States have been named Elena since 1880. It ranks #356 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #49.
States where it is most popular
- CA (18.9 %)
- TX (14.3 %)
- NY (8.1 %)
- FL (5.2 %)
- IL (4.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 74 |
| 1890-1900 | 200 |
| 1900-1910 | 376 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,335 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,169 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,638 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,247 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,454 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,744 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,281 |
| 1980-1990 | 6,300 |
| 1990-2000 | 9,500 |
| 2000-2010 | 15,699 |
| 2010-2019 | 28,804 |
| 2020-2029 | 26,192 |
Famous people named Elena
- Elena Delle Donne: athlete, basketball player
- Elena Ferrante: author, novelist
- Elena Kagan: jurist, supreme court justice
Nicknames
Ellie, Lena, Ella
Fun facts
- Elena is a cognate of Helen, famously traced back to Greek mythology and the figure of Helen of Troy.
- While present in U.S. records since 1880, Elena reached its highest popularity rankings in the 2020s.