Elena

Elena meaning

Elena is an international and Christian girl's name of Greek origin (via Spanish, Italian and Russian).

Form of Helen, Greek Helenē, probably 'the bright one'

Also used to mean: bright, shining light, torch

Elena is the form of Helen used in Spanish, Italian, Greek, Romanian and the Slavic languages. Etymonline traces Helen to the Greek Helenē and says it is probably the feminine of helenos, "the bright one". The Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon also records a word helenē meaning a torch, and the glow of St Elmo's fire, which is why some lists give "torch"; scholars still debate how these words relate to the name. Helen of Troy made the name famous in Greek myth, and Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, is honoured as a Christian saint. It is easy to say in Indian languages.

Source: Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Helen · entry Helen · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Helen · Logeion, ἑλένη (LSJ)

Famous namesakes

• Helen of Troy, in Greek myth
• Saint Helena, mother of Constantine

Popularity abroad

• #42 United States, girls 2025 (up 4 from 46 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #161 England and Wales, girls 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Elena · Elaina · Alena · Helena

Related names

Also meaning light

More names of Greek origin

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