Back to Baby Names

Elena vs Helen

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Elena

Girl #45 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"Bright, shining light; torch"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

Italian Spanish Russian Romanian Greek English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#45
Total SSA Count
4,567
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Similar Names

Helen

Girl #424 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"torch, shining light"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

Greek English French Scandinavian American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#424
Total SSA Count
726
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Similar Names

Popularity Comparison

Elena Rank #45
Helen Rank #424

Elena is more popular, ranked #45 vs #424 for Helen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elena or Helen more popular?

Elena is more popular, ranked #45 compared to Helen at #424 in the United States.

What do Elena and Helen mean?

Elena means "Bright, shining light; torch" (Greek origin). Helen means "torch, shining light" (Greek origin).

Are Elena and Helen boy or girl names?

Elena is primarily a girl name. Helen is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons