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Elena as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Elena

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The baby name Elena is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced {'locale': 'English (common)', 'ipa': '/əˈleɪnə/', 'respelling': 'uh-LAY-nuh'},{'locale': 'Spanish/Italian/Greek', 'ipa': '/eˈlena/', 'respelling': 'eh-LEH-nah'},{'locale': 'Russian (Yelena)', 'ipa': '/jɪˈlɛnə/', 'respelling': 'yeh-LEH-nuh'}.

Elena is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: {'locale': 'English (common)', 'ipa': '/əˈleɪnə/', 'respelling': 'uh-LAY-nuh'},{'locale': 'Spanish/Italian/Greek', 'ipa': '/eˈlena/', 'respelling': 'eh-LEH-nah'},{'locale': 'Russian (Yelena)', 'ipa': '/jɪˈlɛnə/', 'respelling': 'yeh-LEH-nuh'}

What is the meaning of the name Elena ?

The baby name Elena is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced {'locale': 'English (common)', 'ipa': '/əˈleɪnə/', 'respelling': 'uh-LAY-nuh'},{'locale': 'Spanish/Italian/Greek', 'ipa': '/eˈlena/', 'respelling': 'eh-LEH-nah'},{'locale': 'Russian (Yelena)', 'ipa': '/jɪˈlɛnə/', 'respelling': 'yeh-LEH-nuh'}.

Elena is Greek in Origin.

Elena is the Romance and Slavic form of Helen, from Greek Helénē, often interpreted as “torch” or “shining light,” with possible links to selēnē, “moon.” Widespread across Europe since late antiquity through the prestige of Saint Helena and the enduring legend of Helen of Troy, the name traveled via Latin and Byzantine influence into Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Romanian, Russian, and Balkan naming traditions. In English, Elena gained steady currency in the 20th century and has risen in recent decades for its elegant, international feel.

Variants and cognates include Helena, Helen, Elaine, Ellen, Eleni (Greek), Jelena (South Slavic), Yelena (Russian), Olena (Ukrainian), Elene (Georgian), and Ilona (Hungarian, related). Diminutives and short forms span Lena, Leni, Lene, Ellie, Ela, and Nena. Pronunciations vary by language - typically eh-LEH-na or eh-LAY-na - yet the name consistently conveys brightness and classic grace.

Elena has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Elena

Elena Ceaușescu Politician · Born 1916 · Romania Elena Ceaușescu was best known as the wife of Romanian leader Nicolae Ceaușescu and as a powerful communist politician in Romania. Born Lenuța Petrescu on 7 January 1916, she held major influence during the communist era until she and her husband were executed on 25 December 1989. Elena Obraztsova Actor · Born 1937 · Russia Elena Obraztsova was a celebrated Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano, best known for her powerful opera performances. She was especially admired in roles such as Carmen, Marina Mnishek in Boris Godunov, and the title role in Samson et Dalila, and she received the title People's Artist of the USSR in 1976 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990. Elena Anaya Actor · Born 1975 · Spain Elena Anaya is a Spanish actress best known for her breakout role in Sex and Lucia. She later appeared in films like The Skin I Live In and Wonder Woman, and her performance in Sex and Lucia earned her a Goya Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Elena Podkaminskaya Actor · Born 1979 · Russia Elena Podkaminskaya is a Russian actress best known for her role as Victoria Goncharova in the popular television series 'Kitchen'. Born in 1979, she has also appeared in films like 'What Men Talk About' and 'The Best Day Ever'. Her performances have made her a familiar face in Russian cinema and television. Elena Novikova-Belova Athlete · Born 1947 · Soviet Union Elena Novikova-Belova is a famous Soviet fencer who made history by winning four Olympic gold medals in team and individual events. She competed in the 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980 Olympics, becoming one of the most successful female fencers in Olympic history. Elena Yakovleva Actor · Born 1961 · Russia Elena Yakovleva is a Soviet and Russian actress best known for her starring role in the popular TV series Kamenskaya. She is also known for her performances in the films Intergirl and Encore, Once More Encore!.

Celebrity babies named Elena

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Elena Furiase Lolita Flores singer ★★★★★

Elena – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
MD Girls 0 #1 539 865
RU Girls 0 #1 46,862 11,913
RU 0 #1 2,342 3,641
BG Girls 0 #2 1,666 3,559
CY Girls 0 #2 1,238 3,755
CY 0 #3 196 1,632
MD 0 #4 52 434
BG 0 #5 178 1,799
KZ Girls 0 #5 3,567 5,862
Switzerland Girls 2024 #6 253 1,786
GR Girls 0 #6 1,916 6,293
KZ 0 #6 183 1,452
IT Girls 0 #8 163,606 9,415
FJ Girls 0 #9 1 583
Spain Girls 0 #10 43,347 5,561
IL Girls 0 #10 4,010 11,648
SV 0 #11 1 283
SV Girls 0 #12 7 458
TM Girls 0 #13 25 574
EE Girls 0 #14 257 1,888
GR 0 #14 357 3,911
KR Girls 0 #14 2 572
Belgium Girls 2024 #16 257 424
Spain 0 #17 2,737 2,326
PS Girls 0 #17 2,606 10,981
Austria Girls 2024 #20 305 60
HN 0 #20 3 704
IT 0 #23 11,375 4,183
IT Girls 2024 #24 1,236 47
EE 0 #24 14 1,051
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
MV Girls 0 #33 3 2,021
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
HN Girls 0 #34 5 884
PE Girls 0 #34 10,096 14,861
MT 0 #35 9 1,767
GE 0 #36 9 997
PA Girls 0 #36 1,406 9,861
BO Girls 0 #40 3,420 9,488
CR Girls 0 #43 1,911 11,342
United States Girls 2024 #45 4,567 8,487
LT Girls 0 #45 508 1,904
Canada Girls 2024 #48 427 2,795
MO 0 #48 5 2,706
France Girls 2021 #52 1,085 3,185
LU 0 #53 14 2,830
AL Girls 0 #55 271 4,141
GE Girls 0 #55 59 1,564
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CM 0 #56 1 2,592
RS Girls 0 #56 122 1,651
AL 0 #58 18 2,372
JP 0 #58 20 4,057
EC Girls 0 #61 293 3,650
MT Girls 0 #62 95 3,773
MX Girls 0 #62 15,771 17,781
LT 0 #63 25 949
UY Girls 0 #63 2,222 6,731
GT Girls 0 #66 1,241 7,500
AZ Girls 0 #70 6 1,051
CL Girls 0 #70 6,942 14,098
CN 0 #70 16 3,857
AF 0 #71 6 1,883
RS 0 #72 13 923
Norway Girls 2025 #73 61 453
SI 0 #74 7 1,612
AO 0 #75 3 2,729
AR Girls 0 #76 2,628 8,289
MD Boys 0 #77 5 756
LU Girls 0 #82 120 4,850
PH 0 #83 14 5,607
BN Girls 0 #84 23 5,459
EC 0 #84 32 2,502
QA 0 #84 17 7,011
CR 0 #85 74 5,526
AF Girls 0 #86 9 2,402
HR Girls 0 #86 493 3,687
Austria Girls 0 #93 909 1,885
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
CO Girls 0 #94 11,796 16,140
PR Girls 0 #94 70 3,171
Germany Girls 0 #95 4,425 4,949
GT 0 #96 277 5,948
TW 0 #97 7 4,523
PA 0 #98 33 3,797
ID Girls 0 #99 4 3,319
CZ Girls 0 #100 647 5,378
SI Girls 0 #100 82 2,769
BO 0 #104 433 6,868
UY 0 #105 76 2,477
CN Girls 0 #109 378 8,829
GE Boys 0 #109 2 2,055
HU 0 #109 7 1,675
PS 0 #110 114 5,692
IL 0 #111 207 6,291
JP Girls 0 #111 159 6,592
HR 0 #114 69 2,081
AE Girls 0 #115 618 20,968
OM 0 #116 6 6,215
KW 0 #117 5 5,216
PH Girls 0 #119 346 13,098
AE 0 #120 58 10,220
Sweden Girls 2022 #125 57 1,568
CY Boys 0 #125 7 3,473
PE 0 #125 226 6,350
MU 0 #127 10 3,613
IQ 0 #128 6 3,533
AR 0 #130 57 2,915
Finland Girls 0 #131 686 1,368
Austria 0 #134 84 850
DK Girls 0 #135 249 7,429
IR Girls 0 #135 841 8,334
CZ 0 #138 49 3,154
JO 0 #138 3 2,158
MX 0 #138 389 8,339
QA Girls 0 #141 186 15,378
LT Boys 0 #149 3 2,166
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
Germany 0 #152 416 2,542
RS Boys 0 #153 2 2,277
Finland Girls 2026 #159 3,248 3,895
HU Girls 0 #162 66 3,308
MO Girls 0 #164 90 7,056
DK 0 #167 37 5,198
IR 0 #175 56 4,221
MT Boys 0 #178 2 4,064
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
PL Girls 0 #180 307 5,096
CL 0 #184 301 6,867
AO Girls 0 #189 21 4,575
PL 0 #198 15 2,600
PT Girls 0 #199 441 7,952
BG Boys 0 #208 12 3,850
TW Girls 0 #209 68 8,139
PT 0 #211 36 4,161
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
Finland 0 #225 84 830
SG 0 #229 41 11,010
NA Girls 0 #230 8 7,146
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
EC Boys 0 #241 6 3,322
GH 0 #247 2 5,396
AO Boys 0 #248 2 5,568
JM Girls 0 #249 11 7,507
CO 0 #251 289 7,768
JO Girls 0 #252 76 7,570
HR Boys 0 #255 5 3,997
GR Boys 0 #256 12 6,912
KW Girls 0 #258 278 19,177
KZ Boys 0 #259 31 6,578
OM Girls 0 #260 137 15,987
MU Girls 0 #267 85 8,539
RU Boys 0 #267 285 12,621
NG 0 #271 2 5,926
SA 0 #278 18 10,560
SG Girls 0 #282 354 18,916
AL Boys 0 #289 10 5,122
NL 0 #294 98 2,481
CZ Boys 0 #298 8 6,530
MY 0 #301 30 12,352
JP Boys 0 #302 2 7,909
NL Girls 0 #308 1,107 5,933
HK 0 #320 29 8,483
BR 0 #327 19 5,969
CN Boys 0 #329 3 9,639
GH Girls 0 #330 8 6,973
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
SD Girls 0 #351 8 7,678
IQ Girls 0 #357 152 11,303
HK Girls 0 #366 278 16,104
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
YE 0 #369 13 8,639
BD Girls 0 #370 17 8,413
EG 0 #375 26 6,387
PT Boys 0 #377 5 7,951
UY Boys 0 #377 23 5,922
PH Boys 0 #404 5 11,440
LB 0 #413 273 13,263
ZA 0 #429 19 14,421
BR Girls 0 #432 770 12,708
AR Boys 0 #440 28 7,628
PA Boys 0 #447 35 9,305
BH 0 #457 97 17,937
GT Boys 0 #460 15 7,625
CR Boys 0 #466 22 10,188
LY 0 #500 36 12,703
CM Girls 0 #515 26 11,671
SA Girls 0 #518 451 25,931
IR Boys 0 #530 23 10,162
BO Boys 0 #532 61 9,244
PS Boys 0 #533 16 10,655
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
SY 0 #564 169 11,684
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
IL Boys 0 #584 24 10,983
CL Boys 0 #592 74 13,390
TR 0 #593 1,347 19,440
IN Girls 0 #610 22 13,121
NG Girls 0 #617 172 15,093
MY Girls 0 #635 382 24,821
EG Girls 0 #646 334 14,742
IQ Boys 0 #657 11 13,071
Spain Boys 0 #697 240 5,610
TN 0 #726 104 13,765
SG Boys 0 #736 4 17,960
QA Boys 0 #738 6 18,093
BR Boys 0 #739 13 12,213
KW Boys 0 #756 14 18,755
PE Boys 0 #768 111 14,506
CO Boys 0 #769 153 15,656
IT Boys 0 #775 812 10,046
MX Boys 0 #793 193 16,355
DZ 0 #866 316 20,130
MA 0 #867 263 20,986
OM Boys 0 #869 13 17,948
United States Boys 2017 #881 5 7,410
ZA Girls 0 #886 256 25,928
EG Boys 0 #917 9 15,035
Germany Boys 0 #935 18 5,697
NG Boys 0 #997 5 16,906
AE Boys 0 #1,083 10 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,176 7 25,439
ZA Boys 0 #1,267 6 25,619
SA Boys 0 #1,598 17 28,008

Elena is popular in 96 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada

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People also ask about Elena

Elena is predominantly a girl's name.
Elena is a 3 syllable name, pronounced {'locale': 'English (common)', 'ipa': '/əˈleɪnə/', 'respelling': 'uh-LAY-nuh'},{'locale': 'Spanish/Italian/Greek', 'ipa': '/eˈlena/', 'respelling': 'eh-LEH-nah'},{'locale': 'Russian (Yelena)', 'ipa': '/jɪˈlɛnə/', 'respelling': 'yeh-LEH-nuh'}.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Helena, Helene, Eleni, Yelena, Elaina and Alena.
Across languages, Elena has these equivalents: {'Greek': 'Eleni (Ελένη), 'Russian/Slavic': 'Yelena / Jelena (Елена / Јелена).
Yes, very popular — Elena ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 14 countries.
Elena ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Elena's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #72 in 2011 to #52 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 12 notable people named Elena are in our database, including Elena Ceaușescu (Politician), Elena Obraztsova (Actor), Elena Anaya (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Elena for their child, including Lolita Flores.