Elena is a girl name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Elena means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Elena across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Elena has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Elena is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “of uncertain meaning, linked to light”. a form of Helen.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 108,117 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 8,198 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 629 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 212 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 910 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Elena per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (4,842/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2017 (394/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2014 (51/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (38/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2017 (19/yr).
Elena has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #111 nationally (given to 5,210 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 2020s.
Eliana · Elaine · Ellen · Eileen · Elliana · Alina · Alana · Alaina
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