Given name
Elina
“the shining light”
In Finnish use, Elina has a related form in Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Finnish use, Elina has a related form in Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Elina has a related form in Helen. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1896. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Elina has a related form in 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
Elina through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,193
- 0 boys · 6,193 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 358 babies
- 2025
- 355
- #764 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +28%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 355 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 764 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 28.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (62). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,769 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.
Elina’s family of names
In Finnish usage, Elina has a diminutive in Ella. In Finnish usage, Elina shares a linguistic root with the English form Ellen. In Estonian usage, Elina has a related form in Helen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Elina has relatives in 9 languages.
13 related names in 9 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 25
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 Elina
- Elina SvitolinaUkrainian tennis player (born 1994)
- Elina NechayevaEstonian soprano (born 1991)
- Elina BornEstonian singer (born 1994)
- Elina DanielianArmenian chess playerborn 1978
- Elina ValtonenFinnish politician (born 1981)
- Ellina ZverevaBelarusian athleteborn 1960
- Elina BystritskayaSoviet-Russian actress (1928–2019)
- Elina AvanesyanRussian tennis playerborn 2002
- Elina SaloFinnish actress1936–2025
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elina, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Olena
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Ellinor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Ellenor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Catalina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Ottilie
“a wealthy man”
>99% girls
Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Malka
“a queenly woman”
>99% girls
Emelyn
Emelyn is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls