Elena
EL-uh-nuh /ˈɛl.ə.nə/
Meaning of Elena
Elena is a pan-European form of Helen, from the Greek Ἑλένη (Helénē) — connected to the root helios ('sun') or to an older root meaning 'torch' or 'ray of light.' The name spreads from the Greek Ἑλένη of Troy (whose legendary beauty launches the Trojan War) through Byzantine usage into Italian, Spanish and Russian as Elena, and the Eastern form Yelena.
How to pronounce Elena
In Spanish and Italian: e-LE-na (stress on second syllable).
Current popularity of Elena
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #72 |
| Spain (INE) | 2024 | #8 |
| Italy (ISTAT) | 2024 | #11 |
| Russia (Rosstat) | 2024 | #16 |
Notable bearers of Elena
Helena of Troy (Greek mythology); Elena Ferrante (pseudonymous Italian novelist); Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Elena — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
- https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177009
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31