ThinkabaraElena: meaning and origin
Elena
“Bright, shining light; a form of Helen”
About the name Elena
Elena is a girl’s name from the Greek tradition. Its meaning is “bright, shining light; a form of Helen”. Names from ancient Greek, often tied to virtues, myths and early Christian saints — like Sophia, Theodore, Chloe and Nicholas.
More names with a similar meaning: names that mean light.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More Greek names
- Alex 🧒Defender; a short form of Alexander and Alexandra · Greek
- Alexandra 👧Defender of the people · Greek
- Athena 👧The Greek goddess of wisdom · Greek
- Calliope 👧Beautiful voice; the muse of poetry · Greek
- Chloe 👧Green shoot, young plant · Greek
- Cora 👧Maiden · Greek
- Daphne 👧Laurel tree · Greek
- Georgia 👧Farmer; also the US state · Greek
- Helen 👧Bright, shining light · Greek
- Irene 👧Peace · Greek
- Iris 👧Rainbow; also the flower · Greek
- Lydia 👧Woman from Lydia, an ancient kingdom · Greek
Sibling name ideas (Greek, boys)
- Alexander 👦Defender of the people · Greek
- Andrew 👦Manly, strong · Greek
- Atlas 👦The Titan who held up the sky · Greek
- Christopher 👦Bearer of Christ · Greek
- Cyrus 👦Sun; far-sighted (via Persian) · Greek
- Damian 👦To tame, subdue · Greek
- Elias 👦My God is the Lord; the Greek form of Elijah · Greek
- George 👦Farmer · Greek
More girl names starting with E
- Eden 👧Delight; the Garden of Eden · Hebrew
- Eleanor 👧Light; from the medieval name Aliénor · French
- Eliana 👧My God has answered · Hebrew
- Elizabeth 👧My God is an oath · Hebrew
- Ella 👧All, completely; also a short form of Eleanor · German
- Ellie 👧Light; a short form of Eleanor and Ellen · English
- Eloise 👧Healthy, wide · French
- Elsa 👧My God is an oath; a short form of Elisabeth · German
- Ember 👧A glowing piece of coal · English
- Emi 👧Blessed with beauty, smile · Japanese
Questions and answers
What does the name Elena mean?
Elena is a name of Greek origin. It means: bright, shining light; a form of Helen.
Is Elena a boy or girl name?
Elena is usually given to girls.
How many syllables does Elena have?
Elena has 5 letters and about 3 syllables.
Is Elena a popular name?
Yes. Elena has been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. Names marked “popular now” have been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. This is an approximate guide, not an official ranking; see the Social Security Administration’s baby names site for official counts.