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 (Latin, Polish); Eliana (Portuguese); Eline (Dutch, Norwegian, Sranan Tongo); Ileana (Romanian, Italian, Spanish);

Ilona ''Ilona'' is a Hungarian female given name, the traditional name of the Queen of the Fairies in Magyar folklore. Its etymology is uncertain. A common theory is that Ilona is cognate with the Greek given name ''Helen''. Diminutive forms include ...

(Hungarian, Finnish, Latvian); Olena (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 ...

, Russian-English art historian *

Elena Altieri Elena Altieri (born Elena Capucci; 27 July 1916 – 1 May 1997) was an Italian film and stage actress. She appeared in 27 films between 1937 and 1955. She was born in Stresa, the daughter of an Italian father and an English mother. She was mainl ...

, 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 Elena Sergeevna Baltacha ( uk, Олена Сергіївна Балтача; 14 August 1983 – 4 May 2014) was a Ukrainian-born British professional tennis player. Being a four-time winner of the AEGON Awards, she was also a long-ter ...

(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 (born 1992), Romanian tennis player *

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (Elena María Isabel Dominica de Silos de Borbón y de Grecia; born 20 December 1963) is the first child and eldest daughter of Juan Carlos I (King of Spain from 1975 to 2014) and Queen Sofía of Spain, and third ...

, (born 1963), Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Lugo *

Elena Bovina Elena Olegovna Bovina ( rus, link=no, Елена Олеговна Бовина, , ɪ̯ɪˈlʲenə ˈbovʲɪnə; born 10 March 1983) is a former professional tennis player from Russia. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 14 in ...

(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 Elena Ceaușescu (; ; 7 January 1916 – 25 December 1989) was a Romanian communist politician who was the wife of Nicolae Ceaușescu, General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party and leader of the Socialist Republic of Romania. She was also ...

(1916–1989), wife of former Romanian head of state Nicolae Ceaușescu * Elena Dahl (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 200 ...

(born 1989), American basketball player *

Elena Dementieva Elena Viacheslavovna Dementieva (, ; born 15 October 1981) is a Russian former professional tennis player. She won the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, having previously won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. ...

(born 1981), Russian former tennis player * Elena Eremina (born 2001), Russian artistic gymnast *

Elena Eskina Elena Eskina (russian: Елена Михайловна Эскина; born 30 March 1976, Moscow, USSR) is a retired Russian field hockey player and umpire. She was a member of Russia U-21 team at 1992 and 1996 European Championship and was also se ...

(born 1976), retired Russian field hockey player and umpire *

Elena Ferrante Elena Ferrante () is a pseudonymous Italian novelist. Ferrante's books, originally published in Italian, have been translated into many languages. Her four-book series of ''Neapolitan Novels'' are her most widely known works. ''Time'' magazine ...

(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 Elena Anatolyevna Gerasimova (russian: Елена Анатольевна Герасимова, born 21 June 2004) is a Russian artistic gymnast who represented Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She was a member of t ...

(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 (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, 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 Elena Kountoura ( el, Έλενα Κουντουρά, also romanized as ''Elena Koundoura''; born 2 November 1962), is a Greek politician, Member of the European Parliament, ex-Minister of Tourism (resigned on 3 May 2019 in order to participate in ...

, Greek ex-model and politician

L–Z

Elena Ledda Elena Ledda (born 17 May 1959 in Selargius) is an Italian singer from Sardinia. Early life Born near Cagliari, Ledda pursued conservatory studies in oboe and voice. Career Her soprano voice was suitable for opera, which she performed early in ...

, 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 Elena Alexandrovna Likhovtseva (russian: Елена Александровна Лиховцева ; born 8 September 1975) is a Kazakhstani-born Russian former tennis player. She turned professional in January 1992, at the age of 16. Together ...

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

, 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 a ...

, Greek singer * Princess

Elena of Montenegro Elena of Montenegro (; 8 January 1873 – 28 November 1952) was a Montenegrin princess as the daughter of King Nicholas I of Montenegro and his wife, Queen Milena. She was Queen of Italy from 1900 until 1946 as wife of King Victor Emmanuel ...

(Princess Elena Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro, 1873–1952), wife of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy *

Elena Poniatowska Hélène Elizabeth Louise Amélie Paula Dolores Poniatowska Amor (born May 19, 1932), known professionally as Elena Poniatowska () is a French-born Mexican journalist and author, specializing in works on social and political issues focused on th ...

, Mexican journalist and author * Elena Moldovan Popoviciu, Romanian mathematician *

Elena Rigas Elena Møller Rigas, born 29 January 1996 in Albertslund is a Danish inline and speed skater. She was selected as flag-bearer for Denmark at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics. She participated in the women's mass start. Biograp ...

(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 (born 1982), Russian badminton player * Elena Siegman, American singer * Elena Skordelli, 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 Elena Dmitriyevna Stasova ( rus, Елена Дмитриевна Стасова; 15 October Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S._3_October.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/> O.S._3_October">Old_Style_and_New_St ...

, 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 ...

(born 1974), British politician *

Elena Zamolodchikova Elena "Zamo" Mikhailovna Zamolodchikova (russian: Елена Михайловна Замолодчикова; born 19 September 1982) is a Russian former artistic gymnast, and four-time Olympic medallist. In 2015, she was inducted in the Int ...

, Russian gymnast * Elena Zelenskaya, Russian soprano

Middle name

Maria Elena Camerin Maria Elena Camerin (born 21 March 1982) is a former professional tennis player from Italy. In her career, Camerin won three doubles titles on the WTA Tour, as well as ten singles and nine doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. On 11 October 2004 ...

(born 1982), Italian tennis player *

Maria Elena Kyriakou Maria Elena Kyriakou ( el, Μαρία Έλενα Κυριάκου, ; born 11 January 1984) is a Greek Cypriots, Greek-Cypriot singer best known for winning the The Voice of Greece (season 1), first season of ''The Voice of Greece'' under the men ...

(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. She has a daughter called Minerva and granddaughter Tábata. Filmography *Aurora S ...

, Venezuelan telenovela actress

In fiction

* Elena Tyler, a character portrayed by Tangi Miller on the 1998–2002 Warner Bros. series ''Felicity'' *

Elena Fisher Elena Fisher is a fictional character in the Uncharted, ''Uncharted'' series, developed by Naughty Dog. Elena appears in four video games in the main series: ''Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'', ''Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'', ''Uncharted 3: Drake's De ...

, a character in the ''Uncharted'' series *

Elena Gilbert Elena Gilbert is a fictional character and protagonist from the novel series ''The Vampire Diaries (novel series), The Vampire Diaries''. In The Vampire Diaries, the television series adaptation, set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, she is p ...

, 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 ''Corner Shop Show'' is a British comedy drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a gen ...

'' * Elena a priestess from ''

Grandia II is a role-playing video game developed by Game Arts originally for the Dreamcast console as part of their ''Grandia'' series. Initially released in Japan in August 2000 by Game Arts, the game was later made available in English for North America ...

'' * 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 territories published by Nintendo, and April 2013 in North America published by Xseed Games. Focusing on the efforts ...

'' * Elena Castillo Flores, a Disney princess from the animated television series ''

Elena of Avalor ''Elena of Avalor'' is an American computer-animated adventure television series that premiered on Disney Channel on July 22, 2016, and moved to Disney Junior on July 14, 2018. The series features Aimee Carrero as the voice of Elena, a Latina pri ...

'' * 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 The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of science fiction novels and short stories set in a common fictional universe by American author Lois McMaster Bujold.Lillian Stewart Carl and John Helfers, ''The Vorkosigan Companion'', Baen Books 2008, The first ...

'' * 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, ...

Notes

Notable people

Given name

A–K

L–Z

Middle name

In fiction

See also

Notes