Elena

At a Glance: Name: Elena – Meaning: bright, shining light – Origin: Greek – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: eh-LAY-nah

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Elena is a Greek name meaning "bright, shining light," pronounced eh-LAY-nah (IPA /ɛˈleɪnə/). It's catalogued as a timeless-classic pick with a classic-era feel, the kind of name that doesn't loudly chase trends.

Meaning & Origin of Elena

Meaning: Bright, shining light.

Origin: Greek.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Elena

Phonetic: eh-LAY-nah   IPA: /ɛˈleɪnə/

Popularity of Elena

In 2024, Elena ranked #45 on the SSA list with 4,567 girls given the name — and that's the highest it's ever ranked across the full 1880-2024 record, so it's currently at its most popular point on record.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data via names_full.json, 1880–2024.

Make Elena Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Elena, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names without a catalog record, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Cassandra
• Helen
• Phoebe
• Alexandra
• Alexandria
• Anastasia

FAQ

What does the name Elena mean?

Bright, shining light. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Elena)

How do you pronounce Elena?

Elena is pronounced eh-LAY-nah (IPA: /ɛˈleɪnə/).

Is Elena a popular name right now?

Elena is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #45 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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