Given name & surname
Elen
“the shining light”
Elen is a variant of Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Elen is a variant of Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Welsh, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1911. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Welsh use, Elen is a form of Helen. 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
Elen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 409
- 0 boys · 409 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 17 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,208 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +35%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,208 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 35.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,324 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elen’s family of names
Elen is a form of Helen. Elen has a related form in Ellen. In Slovenian usage, Elen has a related form in Elena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Elen has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Welsh roots to each of them.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
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 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Elen
- Elen ShakirovaOlympic basketball playerborn 1970
- Saint Elenlegendary wife of Macsen Wledig (Magnus Maximus) who brought the ideas of Martin of Tours to Wales340–420
- Elen LevonAustralian singerborn 1994
- Elen AsatryanAmerican politician from Californiaborn 1983
- Elen Rhysactressborn 1983
- Elen GrigoryanArmenian weightlifterborn 1988
- Elen WillardAmerican former actressborn 1941
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kendall
“from the royal valley”
15% boys · 85% girls
Ellenor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Olena
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Ellinor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Eleni
“the shining light” · “shining light”
>99% girls
Emiline
Emiline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Talaith
“one who wears a royal crown”
>99% girls