Given name & surname
Alena
“the shining light”·“helper and defender of mankind”·“one who is precious”
In German use, Alena is a short form of Jelena. In Russian use, Jelena carries the interpretation “the shining light.” In German use, Alena is a short form of Alexandra. In Greek use, Alexandra carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Alena is a short form of Jelena. In Russian use, Jelena carries the interpretation “the shining light.” In German use, Alena is a short form of Alexandra. In Greek use, Alexandra carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.” In Czech use, Alena is a feminine form of Alan. Interpretations include “one who is precious” and “resembling a little rock”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Czech use, Alena is a feminine form of Alan. A possible origin is Celtic, although the derivation remains uncertain. Alena connects to the Helen name family through Aleen. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Alena is a short form of Alexandra. In Czech usage, Alena is a feminine form of Alan.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1891. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Alena connects to the Helen name family through Aleen. The history of Helen gives this family its wider story. Helen’s historical associations include the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Alena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 16,014
- 0 boys · 16,014 girls
- Most popular year
- 2015
- 499 babies
- 2025
- 398
- #707 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −12%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 398 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 707 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 499 in 2015. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (50). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 15,518 as a first name in 2020; 105 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Alena’s family of names
In German usage, Alena is a short form of Alexandra. In Czech usage, Alena is a feminine form of Alan. In Czech usage, Alena has a related form in Helena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Alena has relatives in 7 languages.
14 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 14
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 35
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Elenaequivalent
- Alanaequivalent
- Alinaequivalent
- Alanmasculine form · Czech
- Lenaequivalent
- Helenequivalent
- Eleniequivalent
- Ellenequivalent
Show 27 moreShow fewer
- Leenaequivalent
- Yelenaequivalent
- Heleneequivalent
- Olenaequivalent
- Ellinaequivalent
- Allenaequivalent
- Arlenaequivalent
- Alyonaequivalent
- Alionaequivalent
- Leneequivalent
- Lenkaequivalent
- Jelaequivalent
- Алінаequivalent
- Lenkeequivalent
- Helkaequivalent
- Hélèneequivalent
- АлёнаRussian
- Јеленаequivalent
- Helénaequivalent
- Aelenaequivalent
- Еленаequivalent
- Έλεναequivalent
- Jeļenaequivalent
- Альонаequivalent
- Lenuțaequivalent
- Lénaequivalent
- ОленаUkrainian
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Alena
- AikoCzech singer-songwriterborn 1999
- Elena KhrustalevaKazakhstani biathleteborn 1980
- Alena ŠeredováCzech actress and modelborn 1978
- Yelena LeuchankaBelarusian basketball player (born 1983)
- Yelena MazanikPartisan and Hero of the Soviet Union who assassinated Wilhelm Kube (1914–1996)
- Alena VrzáňováCzech figure skater (1931–2015)
- Alena AnisimBelarusian politicianborn 1962
- Alena NewmyarzhytskayaBelarusian sprinterborn 1980
- Alena ProcházkováSlovak cross-country skierborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Charley
“free man”
15% boys · 85% girls
Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
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Emelyn
Emelyn is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
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Ellenor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Emiline
Emiline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Ellinor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Catalina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Ella
“from a foreign land”
>99% girls