Girl
Greek
3 syllables
Elena
eh-LAY-nah
/ɪˈleɪnə/
"The luminous one" — warm, radiant, and lit from within
Elena is the Spanish and Italian form of Helen, from the Greek Helene meaning torch or shining light. Where Helen feels statuesque and classical, Elena has a warmth and accessibility that has made it one of the most loved names across Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Its rise in the US has been steady and significant — it now sits comfortably in the top 60.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesE - le - na
GenderGirl
OriginGreek
Root WordHelene
MeaningShining light, torch, moonlight
PopularityPopular
Peak Year2022
Trend
↑ Rising
Name DayAugust 18
Nicknames
EllieElleLenaNellNellieLeni
About the Name Elena
Elena comes from the Greek Helene, meaning 'torch' or 'shining light.' It is the Spanish, Italian, and Romanian form of Helen.
They share the same ancient Greek root but are distinct forms. Elena is the Romance-language adaptation, while Helen is the English form.
Yes — Elena ranks in the top 60 in the US and is consistently popular across Southern and Eastern Europe.
Elena Rose, Elena Grace, Elena Sofia, Elena Marie, and Elena Jade are all beautiful combinations.
Ellie is the most popular nickname. Lena and Elle are also widely used.
Elena is the traditional Romance-language spelling. Elaina is a more modern Anglicised variant. Both are used in the US.
Personality of Elena
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Elena
Creativity
78%
Elegance
86%
Independence
80%
Intelligence
82%
Strength
72%
Warmth
86%
Famous People Named Elena
E
Elena Gilbert
The protagonist of The Vampire Diaries, played by Nina Dobrev — one of TV's most watched supernatural heroines
E
Elena Ferrante
Pseudonymous Italian novelist whose Neapolitan Novels are among the most celebrated works of contemporary fiction
E
Elena Delle Donne
American WNBA player and two-time MVP, one of basketball's most skilled players
Middle Names for Elena
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Elena
Elena Rose
Elena Grace
Elena Marie
Elena Sofia
Elena Jade
Elena Elise
Elena Pearl
Elena Violet
Elena Iris
Elena Wren
Elena Isabel
Elena Victoria
Names Similar to Elena
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Elena
Ancient Greece
Helen of Troy — from whose name Elena derives — is the most beautiful woman in the world according to Greek mythology
4th century
Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, converts to Christianity and reportedly discovers the True Cross
1600s
Elena becomes one of the most common names in Spain and Italy
2009
The Vampire Diaries premieres on CW with Elena Gilbert as its heroine
2020s
Elena cracks the US top 60, continuing a decade-long rise
Numerology & Symbolism of Elena
1
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
2
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Leo
1
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Golden Amber
💎
Lucky Stone
Topaz
🌸
Lucky Flower
Sunflower
Elena Around the World
How Elena is written in different languages and scripts
إيلينا
Arabic
エレナ
Japanese
Елена
Russian
엘레나
Korean
埃琳娜
Chinese
Ελένα
Greek
एलेना
Hindi
אלנה
Hebrew
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