Eleni is a girl name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Eleni means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Eleni across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Eleni has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Eleni is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “bright, shining light”. The modern Greek form of Helen.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 6,822 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 1,186 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 17 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 6 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 Eleni per year, United States (1946 to 2025). United States peaked in 2024 (255/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2025 (65/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2017 (5/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2014 (3/yr).
Eleni is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2024, when it ranked #1,905 nationally (given to 302 babies that year).
Eliana · Elaine · Elena · Ellen · Eileen · Alani · Ailani · Elaina
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