Elena is a popular female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

of Greek origin. The name means "shining light". Nicknames of the name Elena are Lena, Lennie, Ella, Ellie, Nellie or Nena (less common). Other common variants are Alena (German, Czech, Russian, Belarusian, Serbian, Croatian); Alenka (Slovenian);

Alyona Alyona (russian: Алёна) is a Russian female given name derived from the Ancient Greek name , ''Helenē'' (dialectal variant: , ''Helena''). It can also be the short form of Yelena. Its colloquial forms are Alena, and Olena (Олёна). It can ...

(Russian);

Elene ''Elene'' is a poem in Old English, that is sometimes known as ''Saint Helena Finds the True Cross''. It was translated from a Latin text and is the longest of Cynewulf's four signed poems. It is the last of six poems appearing in the Vercelli man ...

(Georgian);

Helen Helen may refer to: People * Helen of Troy, in Greek mythology, the most beautiful woman in the world * Helen (actress) (born 1938), Indian actress * Helen (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Places * Helen, ...

(English); Hélène (French);

Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer *Helena, mother of Constantine I Places Greece * Helena (island) Guyana * ...

(Latin, Polish);

Eliana Eliana Assyrian/Akkadian, אֱלִיעָנָה (Hebrew), Ηλιάνα (Greek), إليانا (Arabic), is a female given name found with that spelling in Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Origin & meaning Many sources derive it from via He ...

(Portuguese); Eline (Dutch, Norwegian, Sranan Tongo);

Ileana Ileana (also Illeana, Iliana, Eleana, Eliana) is a female given name. It is the feminine form of the male name Elijah. It has been adapted for Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Italian and Spanish (in Spanish there is also Ilean and in Romanian Il ...

(Romanian, Italian, Spanish); Ilona (Hungarian, Finnish, Latvian);

Olena Olena, Olenna ( uk, Олена) is a Ukrainian variant of the feminine name Helen. It is of Greek origin and means "sun ray" or "shining light". Variants of the name Olena include: Alena, Elena, Jelena, Lena, Lenya, Lenochka, Olinia, Olinija, Olen ...

(Ukrainian); and Elena/Yelena/

Jelena Jelena, also written Yelena and Elena, is a Slavic given name. It is a Slavicized form of the Greek name Helen, which is of uncertain origin. Diminutives of the name include Jelica, Jelka, Jele, Jela, Lena, Lenotschka, Jeca, Lenka, and Alena. Not ...

(Russian, Serbian, Croatian).Behind the Name
/ref>

Notable people

Given name

A–K

* Elena Abelson (1904–1993), better known as

Tamara Talbot Rice Tamara Talbot Rice (19 June 1904 – 24 September 1993) was a Russian then English art historian, writing on Byzantine, Russian, and Central Asian art. Talbot Rice was born Elena Abelson, to Louisa Elizabeth ("Lifa") Vilenkin and Israel Boris A ...

, Russian-English art historian * Elena Altieri, Italian actress *

Elena Anaya Elena Anaya Gutiérrez (born 17 July 1975) is a Spanish actress. She garnered public recognition in Spain for her performance in ''Sex and Lucia'' (2001), which also earned her a nomination to the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actress. She sta ...

, Spanish actress *

Elena Arzhakova Elena Vladimirovna Arzhakova (russian: Елена Владимировна Аржакова; born 8 September 1989) is a Russian runner who specializes in the middle distance events. The 2011 European Indoor champion at 1500m, Arzhakova was susp ...

(born 1989), Russian runner who specializes in the middle distance events *

Elena Asimakopoulou Star Hellas ( el, Σταρ Ελλάς, Μις Ελλάς, Μις Γιάνγκ) is a national beauty pageant in Greece. The Star Hellas, Miss Hellas, Miss Young title is a trademark for Vassilis Prevelakis and Associates E.E. George Prevelakis, ...

, Greek model * Elena Baltacha (1983–2014), British tennis player, born in Kiev *

Elena Berezhnaya Elena Viktorovna Berezhnaya (russian: Елена Викторовна Бережная, born 11 October 1977) is a Russian former pair skater. With partner Anton Sikharulidze, she is the 1998 and 1999 World champion, 1998 Olympic silver medali ...

, Russian pair skater *

Elena Bogdan Elena Bogdan (born 28 March 1992) is a professional tennis player from Romania. On 18 July 2011, she achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 151. On 8 June 2015, she peaked at No. 79 in the WTA doubles rankings. Junior career At ...

(born 1992), Romanian tennis player * Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, (born 1963), Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Lugo * Elena Bovina (born 1983), Russian tennis player *

Elena Brambilla Elena Brambilla (29 July 1942 – 3 February 2018) was an Italian historian. Biography Elena Brambilla was born in Milan, 29 July 1942.Elena Braverman Elena Yanovna Braverman (née Lumelskaya, russian: Елена Яновна Браверман) is a Russian, Israeli, and Canadian mathematician known for her research in delay differential equations, difference equations, and population dynamics ...

, Russian, Israeli, and Canadian mathematician *

Elena Carapetis Elena Carapetis is an Australian actress and writer, best known for her role as Jackie Kassis in ''Heartbreak High'', as well as numerous other television series and theatre roles. Early life Elena Carapatis graduated from Australia's National ...

, Greek-Australian actress * Elena Ceaușescu (1916–1989), wife of former Romanian head of state Nicolae Ceaușescu *

Elena Dahl Elena Pavlovna Dahl (née Kornilova; born 10 February 1947 in Saint Petersburg, Russia; then Leningrad, USSR), is a Russian-Swedish author and translator. She is married to the Swedish linguist Östen Dahl. She came to Sweden in 1968, where she st ...

(born 1947), Russian-Swedish author and translator. *

Elena Delle Donne Elena Delle Donne (born September 5, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Delle Donne played college basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens from 2009 ...

(born 1989), American basketball player * Elena Dementieva (born 1981), Russian former tennis player *

Elena Eremina Elena Vyacheslavovna Eremina (russian: Елена Вячеславовна Ерёмина, pron. ''Yelena Vyacheslavovna Yeryomina'', born 29 July 2001) is a retired Russian artistic gymnast. She is the 2017 World all-around bronze medalist and ...

(born 2001), Russian artistic gymnast * Elena Eskina (born 1976), retired Russian field hockey player and umpire * Elena Ferrante (active 1992–present), pseudonymous Italian novelist *

Elena Fiore Elena Fiore (26 July 1928 – September 26, 1999) was an Italian film actress, best known for her roles in Lina Wertmüller films. Born in Naples, Fiore debuted in 1972 in the role Amalia Finocchiaro, an overweight, middle-aged woman full of sexu ...

, Italian actress * Elena Gerasimova (born 2004), Russian artistic gymnast *

Elena Gheorghe Elena Gheorghe (born 30 July 1985; ) is a Romanian singer. In the first half of the 2000s, she joined the Romanian pop group Mandinga, with whom she released two albums. In 2006, she separated from the group and pursued her solo career. She has ...

, Romanian singer; known for her hits "The Balkan Girls" and "Disco Romancing" *

Elena Goode Elena Goode is an American actress and Ford model. She is known for her role as Jade Taylor on ''As the World Turns'' (2006–2007) and her role as Ma in the 2012 film ''Elliot Loves''. Personal life Goode, born in New York City, graduated from ...

(born 1983), American actress *

Ellie Goulding Elena Jane Goulding ( ; born 30 December 1986) is an English singer and songwriter. Her career began when she met record producers Starsmith and Frankmusik, and she was later spotted by Jamie Lillywhite, who became her manager and Artists and ...

(born 1986), British singer-songwriter, born Elena Jane Goulding *

Elena Grushina Elena Eduardovna Grushina (russian: Елена Эдуардовна Грушина or uk, Олена Едуардівна Грушина Olena Eduardivna Hrushyna; born 8 January 1975) is a Ukrainian ice dancer. With partner and then-husband Rus ...

, Ukrainian figure skater *

Elena Hila Elena Hila (born 20 May 1974) is a female shot putter from Romania. Her personal best throw is 18.73 metres, achieved in May 2002 in Snagov Snagov (population: 7,272) is a commune, located north of Bucharest, in Ilfov County, Muntenia, Romania. ...

, Romanian shot putter * Elena Ierodiakonou, Cypriot model *

Elena Kagan Elena Kagan ( ; born April 28, 1960) is an American lawyer who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 10, 2010, and has served since August 7, 2010. Kagan ...

(born 1960), former United States Solicitor General and current Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States *

Elena Kats-Chernin Elena Davidovna Kats-Chernin (born 4 November 1957) is a Soviet-born Australian pianist and composer, best known for her ballet ''Wild Swans''. Early life and career Elena Kats-Chernin was born in Tashkent (now the capital of independent Uzbek ...

(born 1957), Australian composer * Elena Khatzisavva, Cypriot gymnast * Elena Kosmina, Ukrainian beauty queen and model * Elena Kountoura, Greek ex-model and politician

L–Z

* Elena Ledda, Sardinian singer *

Elena Liashenko Elena Liashenko ( uk, Олена Анатоліївна Ляшенко ''Olena Anatoliyivna Liashenko''; russian: Елена Анатольевна Ляшенко; born 9 August 1976) is a Ukrainian former competitive figure skater. She is a thre ...

, Ukrainian figure skater * Elena Likhovtseva (born 1975), Russian tennis player *

Elena Lobsanova Elena Lobsanova (born ) is a Russian-Canadian ballet dancer. She joined the National Ballet of Canada in 2004 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2015. In 2020, she joined the Miami City Ballet. Early life and training Lobsanova was born in ...

, Russian-Canadian ballet dancer *

Elena Manuele Elena Manuele is an Italian singer. Born in 2002, Elena Manuele is originally from San Gregorio di Catania, where she lives with her family and where she currently attends the Linguistic Lyceum. She became popular in Italy in 2018, thanks to th ...

(born 2003), Italian singer * Elena Mousikou, Cypriot archer *

Elena Nathanael Elena Nathanael (Greek: Έλενα Ναθαναήλ, January 19, 1947 – March 4, 2008) was a Greek film actress. Biography Early life Elena Nathanael was born Eleni Delivassili-Nathanael, in Nea Filadelfeia, a town near Athens, to a well-off fa ...

, Greek actress *

Elena Nikolaidi Elena Nikolaidi ( el, Έλενα Νικολαΐδη; June 15, 1909 – November 14, 2002) was a Greek-American opera singer and teacher. She sang leading mezzo-soprano roles with major opera companies worldwide and made numerous recordings. He ...

, Greek-American opera singer *

Elena Nikoli Elena Nikoli (born May 12, 1982) is a Greek handball player. She has won the Greek championship six times, as well as the Greek cup (1998–2003). She took the third place at the Balkan Games in 2004 and she also participated at the Athens 2004 O ...

, Greek handball player *

Elena Obraztsova Elena Vasiliyevna Obraztsova ( rus, Еле́на Васи́льевна Образцо́ва, , ɪ̯ɪˈlʲenə vɐˈsʲilʲɪ̯ɪvnə ɐbrɐˈstsovə; 7 July 1939 – 12 January 2015) was a Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano. She was awarded the ...

(1930–2015), Russian operatic mezzo-soprano *

Elena Pampoulova Elena Pampulova (also Elena Pampulova-Wagner, Elena Pampulova-Bergomi, bg, Елена Пампулова, born 17 May 1972) is a retired tennis player from Bulgaria. She has won one singles and three WTA doubles titles. Her professional tenni ...

(born 1972), Bulgarian tennis player * Elena Panaritis, Greek economist *

Elena Paparizou Helena Paparizou (; , ; born 31 January 1962) is a Swedish-born Greek singer, songwriter and television personality. Born and raised in Sweden to Greek parents, she enrolled in various arts schools before launching a career in Sweden in 1999 as ...

, Greek singer * Princess Elena of Montenegro (Princess Elena Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro, 1873–1952), wife of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy * Elena Poniatowska, Mexican journalist and author *

Elena Moldovan Popoviciu Elena Moldovan Popoviciu (26 August 1924–24 June 2009) was a Romanian mathematician known for her work in functional analysis and specializing in generalizations of the concept of a convex function. She was a winner of the Simion Stoilow Prize in ...

, Romanian mathematician * Elena Rigas (born 1996), Danish speed skater *

Elena Salgado Elena Salgado Méndez () (born 12 May 1949 in Ourense, Galicia, Spain) is a Spanish politician of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Spain and held several ministerial portfolios during her politi ...

(born 1949), Spanish politician *

Elena Shimko Elena Michailovna Shimko (russian: Елена Михайловна Шимко; born 22 April 1982) is a retired Russian badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be p ...

(born 1982), Russian badminton player *

Elena Siegman Elena Siegman is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and video game producer who is best known for her vocal performances in a series of ''Call of Duty'' video games. As a video game producer, she has worked on ''Guitar Hero II'', ''BioSho ...

, American singer *

Elena Skordelli Elena (Anna) Skordelli ( el, Έλενα Σκορδέλη) (born c. 10 September 1968) is a Cypriot television presenter. In 2009 she was dismissed from her job at Sigma TV. She then worked for CNC Plus TV. Murder trial In June 2010, Skortelli a ...

, Cypriot television presenter *

Elena Souliotis Elena Souliotis (spelled Suliotis in the early part of her career; el, Έλενα Σουλιώτη; 28 May 19434 December 2004) was a Greek operatic soprano. Biography Elena Souliotis was born in Athens, Greece, of Greek and Russian parents but ...

, Greek opera singer * Elena Stasova, Russian communist revolutionary *

Elena Tatarkova Elena Tatarkova or Olena Tatarkova (Ukrainian: Олена Tатаркова, born 22 August 1976) is a former professional tennis player from Ukraine. She won four doubles titles on WTA Tour, and four singles and 25 doubles titles on the ITF W ...

(born 1976), Ukrainian former tennis player * Elena Jane Tucker, Australian geneticist *

Elena Udrea Elena Gabriela Udrea (; born 26 December 1973) is a Romanian politician. An independent who held office while in the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) and then the People's Movement Party (PMP), she was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies ...

, Romanian politician; Minister of Tourism * Elena Urlaeva (born 1961), Uzbek human rights activist *

Elena Vesnina Elena Sergeyevna Vesnina (born 1 August 1986) is a Russian former professional tennis player and a former world No. 1 in doubles. She is a four-time Grand Slam champion, having won the 2013 French Open, 2014 US Open, and 2017 Wimbledon Cha ...

(born 1986), Russian tennis player *

Elena Votsi Elena Votsi (Greek: Έλενα Βότση; born 1964 on Hydra island) is a Greek jewelry designer. Votsi completed a degree at the School of Fine Arts in Athens in painting, followed by a master's degree at the Royal College of Art in London in ...

, Greek designer *

Elena Waiss Elena Waiss (, Elena Waiss Band; October 21, 1908 - May 22, 1988) was a Chilean pianist. She was the founder and director of the Escuela Moderna de Música y Danza (EMMD) (Modern School of Music and Dance) and author of texts for musical initiatio ...

(1908-1988), Chilean pianist *

Elena Whitham Elena Whitham (née McLeod, born 9 July 1974) is a Scottish politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley since 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she was appointed as ...

(born 1974), British politician * Elena Zamolodchikova, Russian gymnast * Elena Zelenskaya, Russian soprano

Middle name

* Maria Elena Camerin (born 1982), Italian tennis player * Maria Elena Kyriakou (born 1984), Greek Cypriot singer *

Flor Elena González Flor Elena González (born February 2, 1960 in Venezuela) is a Venezuelan actress who appears in telenovelas. Personal Her first name means "flower" in Spanish language, Spanish. She has a daughter called Minerva and granddaughter Tábata. Fil ...

, Venezuelan telenovela actress

In fiction

* Elena Tyler, a character portrayed by Tangi Miller on the 1998–2002 Warner Bros. series ''Felicity'' * Elena Fisher, a character in the ''Uncharted'' series * Elena Gilbert, from ''The Vampire Diaries'' *

Elena Michaels Elena Michaels is a fictional character in the Women of the Otherworld novel series. Elena is a pack werewolf who was bitten by her lover Clayton Danvers. Elena becomes Pack Alpha after Jeremy Danvers steps down. She first appeared in the novel ' ...

, in the Women of the Otherworld series *

Elena Ramos Elena Ramos is a fictional character and one of the primary female leads in the primetime soap opera ''Dallas'' on the TNT network, an updated version of the original series of the same name that aired on CBS from 1978 to 1991. Elena is portrayed ...

, from ''Dallas'' * Elena of Turks, from ''Final Fantasy VII'' * Elena (''Street Fighter''), from ''Street Fighter III'' *

Elena Potato This is the list of characters from Disney's comic book/animated series ''Monster Allergy''. Protagonists Ezekiel Zick Ezekiel 'Zick' Barrymore ''(Ezechiele Zick in the original Italian version)'' is a fictional character and the male protago ...

, from the comic book and animated series ''Monster Allergy'' * Elena, a Soviet scientist in the Stanley Kubrick film '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'' * Elena, a fictional character played by Hazera Ambce in the British web series '' Corner Shop Show'' * Elena a priestess from '' Grandia II'' * Elena, a lord and the illegitimate daughter of

Thomas Covenant ''The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant'' is a series of ten high fantasy novels written by American author Stephen R. Donaldson. The series began as a trilogy, entitled ''The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever''. This was followed by ano ...

* Elena, an 18-year-old girl from the Wii game ''

Pandora's Tower is an action role-playing game developed by Ganbarion for the Wii. The game released in May 2011 in Japan, April 2012 in PAL region, PAL territories published by Nintendo, and April 2013 in North America published by Marvelous USA, Xseed Games. ...

'' * Elena Castillo Flores, a Disney princess from the animated television series '' Elena of Avalor'' * Elena Alvarez, teenage daughter on ''One Day at a Time'' (2017 TV series) * Elena Bothari-Jesek, a childhood friend of Miles' and later a leader of the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet from the '' Vorkosigan Saga'' * Elena, played by Vera Filatova, is a resident of Apollo House and one of Jez's love interests in

Peep Show (British TV series) ''Peep Show'' is a British television sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. It was written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, with additional material by Mitchell and Webb, among others. It was broadcast on Channel 4 from 2003 until 2 ...

* Elena Greco, character in the

Neapolitan Novels The Neapolitan Novels, also known as the Neapolitan Quartet, are a four-part series of fiction by the pseudonymous Italian author Elena Ferrante, published originally by Edizioni e/o, translated into English by Ann Goldstein, and published by Eu ...

, a 4-part series by the Italian author Elena Ferrante *Elena de la Vega, character from "The Mask of Zorro," a 1998 motion picture *Elena Cañero-Reed, the main character from the tv show

Diary of a Future President ''Diary of a Future President'' is an American comedy-drama television series created by Ilana Peña which premiered on Disney+ on January 17, 2020. Gina Rodriguez serves as an executive producer through her company I Can & I Will Productions, wh ...

Notes

Notable people

Given name

A–K

L–Z

Middle name

In fiction

See also

Notes