Vanya vs Yelena

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Vanya

Girl #2,613 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"God is gracious"

Origin: Hebrew via Slavic

Cultural Roots

Russian Slavic American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#2,613
Total SSA Count
67
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Van

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Yelena

Girl #2,485 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"bright, shining light"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

Russian Ukrainian Bulgarian Serbian Slavic

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#2,485
Total SSA Count
72
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Lena, Yela, Yelya

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Popularity Comparison

Vanya Rank #2,613
Yelena Rank #2,485

Yelena is more popular, ranked #2485 vs #2613 for Vanya.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Vanya ___

  • Vanya Rose
  • Vanya Claire
  • Vanya Marie
  • Vanya Sophia
  • Vanya Grace
  • Vanya Elise

Yelena ___

  • Yelena Sophia
  • Yelena Natalia
  • Yelena Irina
  • Yelena Anastasia
  • Yelena Vera

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Vanya

Natasha Sasha Dimitri Nikolai Anastasia

If you choose Yelena

Anastasia Dmitri Natasha Mikhail Olga

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vanya or Yelena more popular?

Yelena is more popular, ranked #2485 compared to Vanya at #2613 in the United States.

What do Vanya and Yelena mean?

Vanya means "God is gracious" (Hebrew via Slavic origin). Yelena means "bright, shining light" (Greek origin).

Are Vanya and Yelena boy or girl names?

Vanya is primarily a girl name. Yelena is primarily a girl name.

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