Girl name
Elena name meaning
“possibly torch; bright light”
Elena is a name associated with the meanings torch and bright light. It is a form of the Greek name Helenē used across several European languages, and is used as a feminine name in Türkiye. Its relationship with Eleni and Helena provides a concrete connection within the same name family.
What does Elena mean?
Possibly torch; bright light
In Turkish: muhtemelen meşale; parlak ışık
Elena belongs to the same name family as Helena and Helen. Its best-known mythological association is Helen in the Trojan War narratives, while Saint Helena supplies another historical connection. The light-related interpretation is widespread, but it should not be presented as a certain translation of the ancient Greek name.
The ending “-na” is a common final sound in names such as Lina, Mina and Alina, not a suffix with one shared meaning. Each name has to be considered individually. More girl names ending in -na →
Origin of the name Elena
A form of Greek Helenē used in several European languages. The deeper etymology is uncertain, with proposed connections to a torch or light.
| Linguistic origin | Greek, European languages |
|---|---|
| Is Elena in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | E · El |
How to pronounce Elena
| Syllables | 3 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|
Is Elena a girl’s name?
Yes, Elena is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Elena does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Elena
Names with related meanings
- Güneş♀The sun
- Zehra♀Radiant woman
- Hiranur♀A combination of Hira and light
- Nisanur♀Light of women
- Aysel♀Moon-bright
- Aynur♀Moonlight
- Beyza♀White, fair and bright
- İkranur♀A name combining the command 'read' with light
- Parla♀Shine
- Elanur♀Compound evoking hazel colour and light
- Esmanur♀A combination of Esma and light
- Aylin♀A halo of light around the moon
FAQ about the name Elena
What is the meaning of Elena?
Elena means “possibly torch; bright light”. A form of Greek Helenē used in several European languages. The deeper etymology is uncertain, with proposed connections to a torch or light.
Is Elena a girl’s name?
Yes, Elena is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Elena in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Elena nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Elena?
Elena is of Greek and European languages origin.
How many syllables does Elena have?
Elena has 3 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Elena?
Elena does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm13993 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake