Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Elena
GirlGreek, Italian· “form of Helen; meaning uncertain”
- Meaning
- form of Helen; meaning uncertain (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Greek, Italian
- Pronunciation
- eh-LAY-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #42
- US babies 2025
- 4,836
- Best rank
- #42 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Elena
Elena is often said to mean “form of Helen; meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek and Italian roots.
Elena is the form of Helen used in Italian, Spanish, Greek, Russian and many other languages. The Greek original, Helene, is of uncertain meaning: it is often connected with helene, "torch", or with selene, "moon", but these links are not proven. In Greek mythology Helen of Troy, whose abduction sparked the Trojan War, made the name legendary. Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, spread it among Christians. Elena is graceful and melodic, with an international character that works in almost any culture. Ellie, Lena and Nell are affectionate short forms.
Popularity over time
Elena has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 144 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #42, and its highest count, 4,836 babies. Use has grown 67% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #530 in 1920, #501 in 1950, #370 in 1980, #234 in 2000, #164 in 2010, and #42 in 2025. Of the 108,013 US girls named Elena since records began, 27% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 26,192 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Naomi, Ivy, Valentina, Delilah, and Eloise.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Elena ranked highest in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #14 | 38 |
| Texas | #15 | 786 |
| Arizona | #20 | 151 |
| California | #21 | 809 |
| Illinois | #26 | 206 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Elena is usually pronounced eh-LAY-nuh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with E and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Elena
A few middle names that flow with Elena: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Elena
Similar names
Helena Girl
HEH-luh-nuh
“uncertain; possibly torch or light” · Greek
#363
Ariana Girl
ar-ee-AH-nuh
“most holy; form of Ariadne” · Italian
#128
Arianna Girl
ar-ee-AH-nuh
“most holy” · Italian
#234
Athena Girl
uh-THEE-nuh
Greek
#109
Ariadna Girl
ah-ree-AHD-nah
“most holy (form of Ariadne)” · Spanish
#1,417
Caterina Girl
kat-uh-REE-nuh
“Italian form of Catherine” · Italian
#4,679
Sienna Girl
see-EN-uh
“reddish-brown; from Siena” · Italian
#94
Selena Girl
suh-LEE-nuh
“moon” · Greek
#268
Marina Girl
muh-REE-nuh
“of the sea” · Latin
#602
Lydia Girl
LIH-dee-uh
“woman from Lydia” · Greek
#92
Angelina Girl
an-juh-LEE-nuh
“little angel; messenger” · Italian
#347
Catalina Girl
ka-tuh-LEE-nuh
“Spanish form of Katherine; often linked to pure” · Spanish
#111
Lists that include Elena
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elena mean?
Elena is often said to mean “form of Helen; meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek and Italian roots.
What is the origin of the name Elena?
Elena has Greek, Italian, and Spanish roots. Elena is the form of Helen used in Italian, Spanish, Greek, Russian and many other languages.
Is Elena a popular name?
Yes. Elena ranked #42 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Elena a boy or girl name?
Elena is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Elena?
Elena is usually pronounced eh-LAY-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings