Given name & surname
Elin
“the shining light”
Elin is a variant of Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Elin is a variant of Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Elin is a variant of Elen. A possible origin is Welsh, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Welsh use, Elin is used as a variant of Elen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1893. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Elin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,204
- 152 boys · 5,052 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 428 babies
- 2025
- 53
- #3,077 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −59%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 53 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,077 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 58.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 428 in 2011. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,072 as a first name in 2020; 202 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.
Elin’s family of names
In Norwegian usage, Elin has a short form in Eli. In Swedish usage, Elin shares a linguistic root with the Finnish form Elina. In Faroese usage, Elin has a conventional equivalent in the English form Helen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Elin has relatives in 13 languages.
11 related names in 13 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
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 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- ElenaSpanish, Italian
- Helenaalso known as · Swedish, Portuguese
- HelenEnglish
- Elineequivalent
- Elynequivalent
- Ellinequivalent
- Eelinderivative · Finnish
- Ἑλένηroot · Ancient Greek
Show 2 moreShow fewer
People named Elin
- Elin WägnerSwedish writer, journalist and Suffragette (1882–1949)
- Elin PelinBulgarian writer (1877-1949)
- Elin RubenssonSwedish association football playerborn 1993
- Elin Danielson-GambogiFinland Swedish painter (1861–1919)
- Elin NordegrenSwedish modelborn 1980
- Elin Nilsencross-country skierborn 1968
- Elin KristiansenNorwegian biathleteborn 1968
- Julia DufveniusSwedish actressborn 1975
- Elin TopuzakovBulgarian footballerborn 1977
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Elin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aylin
“having a moonlit halo”
1% boys · 99% girls
Adelyn
Adelyn is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Adelynn
“of the nobility; serene; of good humor”
>99% girls
Elise
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Elisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Evelynn
“a birdlike woman” · “a birdlike man”
>99% girls
Allie
“the son of a noble” · “helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls
Adalyn
“of the nobility; serene; of good humor”
>99% girls