Elina
Elina was the 764th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 355 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 297 places. More babies were named Elina in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning form of Helena · Finnish, Greek
Say it eh-LEE-nuh /ɛˈlinə/
- Rank in 2025
- #764 girls, up 217 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 355girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2024358 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,193babies recorded
What does the name Elina mean?
Elina is the Finnish and Estonian form of Helena, which Wiktionary describes as a medieval variant parallel to Swedish Elin and English Ellen. In Greek families it can also be a short form of names like Eleni or Evangelina. Helena comes from Greek Helenē, a name of unknown origin; the popular link with Greek hēlios 'sun' or 'torch' is not supported. In the US it may also be heard as a variant of Elena or a blend of Ella and Lina.
Ἑλένη (Helénē) (Ancient Greek, “Helen (meaning unknown)”)
How sure is this? Probable.
Other explanations you may read: Helen means 'light' or 'torch' (from hēlios or helanē).
Related names: Elena, Helena, Elin, Ellen, Alina.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Elina' (Finnish section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Helen', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ellen', DMNES (Durham University)
Elina popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #764 | 355 |
| 2020 | #981 | 260 |
| 2010 | #1,297 | 182 |
| 2000 | #2,487 | 61 |
| 1990 | #4,920 | 19 |
| 1980 | #5,050 | 14 |
| 1970 | #5,513 | 9 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #4,745 | 5 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | #2,014 | 5 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Elina, counting every spelling?
Elina is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #722 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #764 for Elina on its own. Together these spellings went to 392 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elina | 355 | #764 | 1,620 |
| Ellina | 17 | #6,615 | 84 |
| Elyna | 15 | #7,235 | 70 |
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 Elina?
355 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elina (0.10 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Elina 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 24 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elina.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elina?
About 6,000 people born in the US named Elina are alive today, with a median age of 11; half are between 5 and 18. That makes Elina a young name: most people with it are children.
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.
Elina by state
How common Elina was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in California (2.0×), Illinois (1.8×), Washington (1.6×), Massachusetts (1.6×), Virginia (1.5×). In 20 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Elina: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elina, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Elina · Sibling names for Elina
Questions about the name Elina
What does Elina mean?
Elina means “form of Helena” (Finnish, Greek origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Elina?
Elina was the 764th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 355 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 297 places. More babies were named Elina in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Elina a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Elina in the US.
Where is Elina most popular?
In 2021–2025, Elina was most common in California (0.40 per 1,000 girls), followed by Illinois and Washington.