Given name & surname · Greek
Ελένη
“the shining light”·“shining light”
Ελένη (Eléni) is a feminine given name from Ancient Greek. It is used in Greek.
GreekWritten in Greek script. In English: Helen.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ελένη is Eleni written in the Greek alphabet. Eleni is a variant of Elena. In Spanish use, Elena carries the interpretation “the shining light.” Eleni is a variant of Eleanor. Eleanor is sometimes interpreted through Helen as “shining light,” but the connection to Helen is disputed. Another proposed explanation starts with a Germanic element ali, “other” or “foreign.” Neither proposal supplies a securely established full meaning.
Explained through its name family
Ελένη’s family of names
In Greek usage, Ελένη has a diminutive in Ελενίτσα. In Greek usage, Ελένη has a conventional equivalent in the English form Helen. In Greek usage, Ελένη has a conventional equivalent in the Italian form Elena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Ελένη has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
Ancient Greekwhere Ελένη comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 16
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ελένη
- Eleni FoureiraGreek singerborn 1987
- Eleni KaraindrouGreek composer and pianistborn 1941
- Eleni ArtymataCypriot sprinterborn 1986
- Helena Angelina DoukainaQueen consort of Sicily (1242-1271)
- Helen VlachosGreek journalist (1911–1995)
- Eleni TsaligopoulouGreek singerborn 1962
- Helena Palaiologinadaughter of Demetrios Palaiologos, later taken into Sultan Mehmed II's harem1442–1470
- Eleni TheocharousCypriot politicianborn 1953
- Helena Angelina KomnenePeerage person ID=1200451300–1290
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ελένη, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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