What Does the Name Elena Mean?

Elena is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning “torch, bright, shining light.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Elena
Gender	female
Origin	Greek
Meaning	torch, bright, shining light
Variants	Helena, Helen, Elaine, Yelena, Lena
Popularity	Widely popular across Europe and Latin America; a consistent and rising favorite in the US.

The meaning and origin of Elena

The name Elena means “torch, bright, shining light” and has Greek origins. A form of Helen used across Italian, Spanish, Russian, and other languages, ultimately from Greek Helene, possibly related to helene 'torch' or to the root meaning 'light, bright'. It has been borne by saints and royalty throughout Europe.

Variants and related names

Elena is related to several other names you may recognize: Helena, Helen, Elaine, Yelena, Lena. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Elena?

Widely popular across Europe and Latin America; a consistent and rising favorite in the US.

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