Jelena sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Elena, Yelena, and Helena are the closest matches by sound. Most share Jelena's Slavic cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"light, shining, bright"
"Christian woman"
"moon (via Selene connection)"
"industrious, hardworking"
"from the Tatius family"
"light, torch"
"elm tree"
"grace, blessing (Japanese 恵奈)"
"gracious, dear"
"traditional flat sandal (object, not name meaning)"
"daughter of Jana, of gracious spirit"
"triumphant one"
"rival, emulator (via Camilla/Aemilia)"
"elf, magical being"
"gift of God"
"golden, made of gold"
"divine will"
"Christian, anointed one"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Jelena — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via Slavic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Jelena.
Rhythm: Jelena is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.