How to say it
e · LAY · na
ɛˈleɪ.nə
Feminine
Elena
Shining light
What it means
From the Greek Helene (Ἑλένη), meaning shining light or torch. Elena is the Spanish, Italian, and Russian form, where the name lives most strongly today.
Helen of Troy is the mythological starting point, the face whose abduction launched a war. Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, carried the name into the Christian world in the 4th century. Elena is the form the name takes in Spanish, Italian, Russian, Romanian, and most other Romance and Slavic languages. The Disney show Elena of Avalor, featuring the first Latina princess, helped the name climb the US charts in the late 2010s. Common short forms are Lena, Ela, and the English-leaning Ellie.
How to spell Elena
The standard spelling is Elena. Common variants include Helena, Helen, Yelena, Elaina, Lena, but Elena is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #42 in 2025, currently #42 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
Two accepted pronunciations: eh-LAY-nuh (Spanish/Italian) and EH-leh-nuh (more Slavic). The Spanish form is more common in current US usage.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Elena Ferrante Pseudonymous Italian novelist, the Neapolitan Quartet
- Elena Gilbert Lead character of The Vampire Diaries, 2009-2017
Spelling variants
- Helena
- Helen
- Yelena
- Elaina
- Lena
Names with the same feeling
See Elena from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Elena mean?
- From the Greek Helene (Ἑλένη), meaning shining light or torch. Elena is the Spanish, Italian, and Russian form, where the name lives most strongly today.
- What does Elena mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Elena means "Shining light." Helen of Troy is the mythological starting point, the face whose abduction launched a war. Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, carried the name into the Christian world in the 4th century. Elena is the form the name takes in Spanish, Italian, Russian, Romanian, and most other Romance and Slavic languages. The Disney show Elena of Avalor, featuring the first Latina princess, helped the name climb the US charts in the late 2010s. Common short forms are Lena, Ela, and the English-leaning Ellie.
- How do you pronounce Elena?
- Elena is pronounced ɛˈleɪ.nə. Say it as e-LAY-na, with the stress on the "lay" syllable.
- How do you spell Elena?
- The standard spelling is Elena. Common spelling variants include Helena, Helen, Yelena, Elaina, Lena.
- Is Elena a boy or girl name?
- Elena is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Elena?
- Elena ranked #42 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.