Elene
Elene was the 8001st most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 13 babies. Its best year was 1914, when it ranked 1240th; the most babies were born in 1922 (37). Over the last ten years it has moved up 3,160 places. More babies were named Elene in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Ellen) variant of Helen · English, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #8,001 girls, up 7,781 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 13girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 192237 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,274babies recorded
What does the name Elene mean?
Elene is a spelling of Ellen, pronounced the same way, so it shares Ellen's meaning and origin.
Ellen is a medieval English form of Helen, from Greek Helenē; DMNES uses it as the headword for the name and notes that the ultimate root is uncertain, with the first record in Homer's Iliad. Wiktionary adds that Ellen was also used as a variant of Eleanor. The popular idea that Helen means 'light' or 'torch' (from Greek hēlios 'sun') is not supported. Ellen was common in the US through the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Ἑλένη (Helenē) (Ancient Greek, “Helen”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES: ultimate root uncertain.
Other explanations you may read: Helen means 'light' or 'torch'.
Related names: Helen, Eleanor, Elaine, Ella, Nell.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ellen', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ellen', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Elene popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,001 | 13 |
| 2020 | #15,782 | 5 |
| 2010 | #11,538 | 9 |
| 2000 | #9,371 | 10 |
| 1990 | #10,539 | 7 |
| 1980 | #8,395 | 7 |
| 1970 | #5,510 | 9 |
| 1960 | #4,542 | 9 |
| 1950 | #3,282 | 11 |
| 1940 | #3,603 | 7 |
| 1930 | #2,459 | 13 |
| 1920 | #1,595 | 27 |
| 1910 | #2,521 | 5 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Elene, counting every spelling?
Elene is a spelling of Ellen, a name family that ranked #763 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #8,001 for Elene on its own. Together these spellings went to 360 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen | 230 | #1,062 | 1,259 |
| Elin | 53 | #3,077 | 420 |
| Eleen | 35 | #4,098 | 198 |
| Eline | 14 | #7,593 | 97 |
| Elen | 8 | #11,208 | 54 |
| Elyn | — | — | 53 |
| Elene | 13 | #8,001 | 50 |
| Ellyn | 7 | #12,278 | 47 |
| Elynn | — | — | 34 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Elene?
13 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elene (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Elene born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 646 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elene.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elene?
About 600 people born in the US named Elene are alive today, with a median age of 52; half are between 18 and 71. That makes Elene mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Elene: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elene, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Elene
What does Elene mean?
Elene is a spelling of Ellen, usually explained as “variant of Helen”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Elene?
Elene was the 8001st most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 13 babies. Its best year was 1914, when it ranked 1240th; the most babies were born in 1922 (37). Over the last ten years it has moved up 3,160 places. More babies were named Elene in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Elene a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Elene in the US.