Elena
Meaning of Elena
Elena is the Italian and Spanish form of Helen, which derives from the Greek Helene. Standard name dictionaries connect it to the Greek word for “torch” or “light,” though the etymology is uncertain, and some sources treat the Greek name as older than Greek itself. In English the name is pronounced eh-LAY-nuh; Spanish and Italian speakers say eh-LEH-nah, with a shorter middle vowel.
The best-known historical bearer is Elena Cornaro Piscopia, the Venetian philosopher and noblewoman who in 1678 became the first woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Among modern figures, Elena Poniatowska is a Mexican journalist and author known for La noche de Tlatelolco, and Elena Delle Donne is a former WNBA star.
In the United States the name has risen sharply over a generation. It ranked 234th in 2000 and 164th in 2010, then climbed steadily through the following decade. In 2025 it reached 42nd place with 4,836 girls, its highest position on record and a striking advance for a name that sat outside the top 400 as recently as the early 1980s. Parents are most likely to meet it now among very young children, where it has become considerably more familiar than it was for their own generation.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as eh-LAY-nuh (/əˈleɪnə/)
Spanish
- Pronunced as eh-LEH-nah (/eˈlena/)
Italian
- Pronunced as eh-LEH-nah (/eˈlɛna/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Elena
| Elena Delle Donne is an American former WNBA star who excelled at Delaware, went second overall to the Chicago Sky in 2013 and led them to the 2014 Finals then guided the Washington Mystics to their first title in 2019. |
| French born Mexican journalist and author Elena Poniatowska, famed for La noche de Tlatelolco, championed the disenfranchised and is regarded as Mexicos grande dame of letters. |
| Elena Cornaro Piscopia - Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was a Venetian philosopher and noblewoman who in 1678 became the first woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree and one of the first women awarded a university degree. |
| Elena Anaya is a Spanish actress known for The Skin I Live In and Wonder Woman. |
| Spanish Paralympic runner and Barcelona teacher Elena Congost Mohedano, who has a degenerative vision impairment, competed at five Games, winning the 2016 marathon and taking 1500 m silver in 2012. |
| Elena Cattaneo is an Italian pharmacologist and co-founding director of the University of Milan's Center for Stem Cell Research. |
| Elena Satine is a Georgian American actress and singer known for Magic City, Revenge, Cowboy Bebop, and roles on superhero shows Smallville, Agents of SHIELD, and The Gifted. |
| Elena Angela Verdugo was an American actress who began acting at age five and built a career spanning six decades across film, radio, and television. |
| Elena Leușteanu - Romanian artistic gymnast Elena Leusteanu-Popescu competed at the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics, winning three Olympic bronzes including the nation’s first individual medal in the sport, plus a world bronze and five continental silvers. |
