Elena is a popular female given name of Greek origin. The name means "shining light". Nicknames of the name Elena are Lena, Lennie, Ella, Ellie, Nellie or Nena (less common). Other common variants are Alena (German, Czech, Russian, Belarusian, Serbian, Croatian);

Alenka Alenka is a popular Slovene female given name. It ranks among the top 30 most common female names in Slovenia. Another version of the same name is Lenka. In Slavic languages, both versions are often treated as diminutive names of Alena and Lena, ...

(Slovenian); Alyona (Russian); Elene (Georgian); Helen (English); Hélène (French);

Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer *Helena, mother of Constantine I Places Greece * Helena (island) Guyana * ...

(Latin, Polish);

Eliana Eliana Assyrian/Akkadian, אֱלִיעָנָה (Hebrew), Ηλιάνα (Greek), إليانا (Arabic), is a female given name found with that spelling in Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Origin & meaning Many sources derive it from via He ...

(Portuguese); Eline (Dutch, Norwegian, Sranan Tongo);

Ileana Ileana (also Illeana, Iliana, Eleana, Eliana) is a female given name. It is the feminine form of the male name Elijah. It has been adapted for Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Italian and Spanish (in Spanish there is also Ilean and in Romanian Il ...

(Romanian, Italian, Spanish); Ilona (Hungarian, Finnish, Latvian);

Olena Olena, Olenna ( uk, Олена) is a Ukrainian variant of the feminine name Helen. It is of Greek origin and means "sun ray" or "shining light". Variants of the name Olena include: Alena, Elena, Jelena, Lena, Lenya, Lenochka, Olinia, Olinija, Olen ...

(Ukrainian); and Elena/Yelena/ Jelena (Russian, Serbian, Croatian).Behind the Name
/ref>

Notable people

Given name

A–K

* Elena Abelson (1904–1993), better known as Tamara Talbot Rice, Russian-English art historian * Elena Altieri, Italian actress *

Elena Anaya Elena Anaya Gutiérrez (born 17 July 1975) is a Spanish actress. She garnered public recognition in Spain for her performance in '' Sex and Lucia'' (2001), which also earned her a nomination to the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actress. She s ...

, Spanish actress * Elena Arzhakova (born 1989), Russian runner who specializes in the middle distance events * Elena Asimakopoulou, Greek model * Elena Baltacha (1983–2014), British tennis player, born in Kiev * Elena Berezhnaya, Russian pair skater * Elena Bogdan (born 1992), Romanian tennis player * Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, (born 1963), Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Lugo * Elena Bovina (born 1983), Russian tennis player *

Elena Brambilla Elena Brambilla (29 July 1942 – 3 February 2018) was an Italian historian. Biography Elena Brambilla was born in Milan, 29 July 1942.

(1942–2018), Italian historian * Elena Braverman, Russian, Israeli, and Canadian mathematician * Elena Carapetis, Greek-Australian actress * Elena Ceaușescu (1916–1989), wife of former Romanian head of state Nicolae Ceaușescu *

Elena Dahl Elena Pavlovna Dahl (née Kornilova; born 10 February 1947 in Saint Petersburg, Russia; then Leningrad, USSR), is a Russian-Swedish author and translator. She is married to the Swedish linguist Östen Dahl. She came to Sweden in 1968, where she st ...

(born 1947), Russian-Swedish author and translator. * Elena Delle Donne (born 1989), American basketball player *

Elena Dementieva Elena Viacheslavovna Dementieva (, ; born 15 October 1981) is a Russian former professional tennis player. She won the singles gold medal at the Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2008 Olympics in Beijing, having previously won the silver meda ...

(born 1981), Russian former tennis player *

Elena Eremina Elena Vyacheslavovna Eremina (russian: Елена Вячеславовна Ерёмина, pron. ''Yelena Vyacheslavovna Yeryomina'', born 29 July 2001) is a retired Russian artistic gymnast. She is the 2017 World all-around bronze medalist and ...

(born 2001), Russian artistic gymnast * Elena Eskina (born 1976), retired Russian field hockey player and umpire *

Elena Ferrante Elena Ferrante () is a pseudonymous Italian novelist. Ferrante's books, originally published in Italian, have been translated into many languages. Her four-book series of '' Neapolitan Novels'' are her most widely known works. ''Time'' magazin ...

(active 1992–present), pseudonymous Italian novelist * Elena Fiore, Italian actress * Elena Gerasimova (born 2004), Russian artistic gymnast * Elena Gheorghe, Romanian singer; known for her hits "The Balkan Girls" and "Disco Romancing" *

Elena Goode Elena Goode is an American actress and Ford model. She is known for her role as Jade Taylor on ''As the World Turns'' (2006–2007) and her role as Ma in the 2012 film ''Elliot Loves''. Personal life Goode, born in New York City, graduated from ...

(born 1983), American actress * Ellie Goulding (born 1986), British singer-songwriter, born Elena Jane Goulding * Elena Grushina, Ukrainian figure skater *

Elena Hila Elena Hila (born 20 May 1974) is a female shot putter from Romania. Her personal best throw is 18.73 metres, achieved in May 2002 in Snagov Snagov (population: 7,272) is a commune, located north of Bucharest, in Ilfov County, Muntenia, Romania. ...

, Romanian shot putter * Elena Ierodiakonou, Cypriot model * Elena Kagan (born 1960), former United States Solicitor General and current Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States * Elena Kats-Chernin (born 1957), Australian composer *

Elena Khatzisavva Elena Khatzisavva ( gr, Ελενα Χατζησάββα, born 17 August 1977) is a retired Cypriot rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon. The sport c ...

, Cypriot gymnast * Elena Kosmina, Ukrainian beauty queen and model * Elena Kountoura, Greek ex-model and politician

L–Z

* Elena Ledda, Sardinian singer * Elena Liashenko, Ukrainian figure skater * Elena Likhovtseva (born 1975), Russian tennis player * Elena Lobsanova, Russian-Canadian ballet dancer * Elena Manuele (born 2003), Italian singer *

Elena Mousikou Elena Mousikou (born 7 November 1988) is an athlete from Cyprus who competes in archery. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing Mousikou finished her ranking round with a total of 589 points. This gave her the 56th seed for the final compet ...

, Cypriot archer *

Elena Nathanael Elena Nathanael (Greek: Έλενα Ναθαναήλ, January 19, 1947 – March 4, 2008) was a Greek film actress. Biography Early life Elena Nathanael was born Eleni Delivassili-Nathanael, in Nea Filadelfeia, a town near Athens, to a well-off fa ...

, Greek actress * Elena Nikolaidi, Greek-American opera singer *

Elena Nikoli Elena Nikoli (born May 12, 1982) is a Greek handball player. She has won the Greek championship six times, as well as the Greek cup (1998–2003). She took the third place at the Balkan Games in 2004 and she also participated at the Athens 2004 O ...

, Greek handball player *

Elena Obraztsova Elena Vasiliyevna Obraztsova ( rus, Еле́на Васи́льевна Образцо́ва, , ɪ̯ɪˈlʲenə vɐˈsʲilʲɪ̯ɪvnə ɐbrɐˈstsovə; 7 July 1939 – 12 January 2015) was a Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano. She was awarded the P ...

(1930–2015), Russian operatic mezzo-soprano *

Elena Pampoulova Elena Pampulova (also Elena Pampulova-Wagner, Elena Pampulova-Bergomi, bg, Елена Пампулова, born 17 May 1972) is a retired tennis player from Bulgaria. She has won one singles and three WTA doubles titles. Her professional ten ...

(born 1972), Bulgarian tennis player *

Elena Panaritis Elena Panaritis ( el, Έλενα Παναρίτη) is a Greek economist and former member of the Greek Parliament. Early life and studies Elena Panaritis was born in Athens, Greece. She studied Economics at the American College of Greece, gradua ...

, Greek economist * Elena Paparizou, Greek singer * Princess Elena of Montenegro (Princess Elena Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro, 1873–1952), wife of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy * Elena Poniatowska, Mexican journalist and author *

Elena Moldovan Popoviciu Elena Moldovan Popoviciu (26 August 1924–24 June 2009) was a Romanian mathematician known for her work in functional analysis and specializing in generalizations of the concept of a convex function. She was a winner of the Simion Stoilow Prize in ...

, Romanian mathematician * Elena Rigas (born 1996), Danish speed skater * Elena Salgado (born 1949), Spanish politician *

Elena Shimko Elena Michailovna Shimko (russian: Елена Михайловна Шимко; born 22 April 1982) is a retired Russian badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be p ...

(born 1982), Russian badminton player *

Elena Siegman Elena Siegman is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and video game producer who is best known for her vocal performances in a series of ''Call of Duty'' video games. As a video game producer, she has worked on ''Guitar Hero II'', ''BioSho ...

, American singer * Elena Skordelli, Cypriot television presenter * Elena Souliotis, Greek opera singer * Elena Stasova, Russian communist revolutionary * Elena Tatarkova (born 1976), Ukrainian former tennis player * Elena Jane Tucker, Australian geneticist * Elena Udrea, Romanian politician; Minister of Tourism * Elena Urlaeva (born 1961), Uzbek human rights activist *

Elena Vesnina Elena Sergeyevna Vesnina (born 1 August 1986) is a Russian former professional tennis player and a former world No. 1 in doubles. She is a four-time Grand Slam champion, having won the 2013 French Open, 2014 US Open, and 2017 Wimbledon C ...

(born 1986), Russian tennis player * Elena Votsi, Greek designer * Elena Waiss (1908-1988), Chilean pianist * Elena Whitham (born 1974), British politician * Elena Zamolodchikova, Russian gymnast * Elena Zelenskaya, Russian soprano

Middle name

* Maria Elena Camerin (born 1982), Italian tennis player * Maria Elena Kyriakou (born 1984), Greek Cypriot singer * Flor Elena González, Venezuelan telenovela actress

In fiction

Elena Tyler The following is a partial list of characters from the television series '' Felicity'': Main characters Felicity Elizabeth Porter The title character is played by Keri Russell. The series opens with Felicity's high school graduation. Follo ...

, a character portrayed by Tangi Miller on the 1998–2002 Warner Bros. series ''Felicity'' * Elena Fisher, a character in the ''Uncharted'' series * Elena Gilbert, from ''The Vampire Diaries'' *

Elena Michaels Elena Michaels is a fictional character in the Women of the Otherworld novel series. Elena is a pack werewolf who was bitten by her lover Clayton Danvers ''Bitten'' is a Canadian television series based on the ''Women of the Otherworld'' serie ...

, in the Women of the Otherworld series * Elena Ramos, from ''Dallas'' * Elena of Turks, from ''Final Fantasy VII'' * Elena (''Street Fighter''), from ''Street Fighter III'' * Elena Potato, from the comic book and animated series ''Monster Allergy'' * Elena, a Soviet scientist in the Stanley Kubrick film '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'' * Elena, a fictional character played by Hazera Ambce in the British web series '' Corner Shop Show'' * Elena a priestess from '' Grandia II'' * Elena, a lord and the illegitimate daughter of Thomas Covenant * Elena, an 18-year-old girl from the Wii game '' Pandora's Tower'' * Elena Castillo Flores, a Disney princess from the animated television series '' Elena of Avalor'' * Elena Alvarez, teenage daughter on ''One Day at a Time'' (2017 TV series) * Elena Bothari-Jesek, a childhood friend of Miles' and later a leader of the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet from the '' Vorkosigan Saga'' * Elena, played by Vera Filatova, is a resident of Apollo House and one of Jez's love interests in Peep Show (British TV series) * Elena Greco, character in the Neapolitan Novels, a 4-part series by the Italian author Elena Ferrante *Elena de la Vega, character from "The Mask of Zorro," a 1998 motion picture *Elena Cañero-Reed, the main character from the tv show Diary of a Future President

Notes

Notable people

Given name

A–K

L–Z

Middle name

In fiction

See also

Notes