Given name & surname
Ellena
“the shining light”
Ellena is a variant of Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ellena is a variant of Ellen. In English use, Ellen carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1888. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ellena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,525
- 0 boys · 2,525 girls
- Most popular year
- 2013
- 75 babies
- 2025
- 39
- #3,792 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −9%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 39 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,792 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 9.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 75 in 2013. 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 1,786 as a first name in 2020; 389 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.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
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.
Similar names
If you love Ellena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alayna
“beautiful and fair woman; dear child”
>99% girls
Alaina
“beautiful and fair woman; dear child”
>99% girls
Amina
“honest; trustworthy; faithful” · “faithful, trustworthy”
>99% girls
Elaina
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Arianna
“resembling silver” · “one who is holy”
>99% girls
Alana
“one who is precious” · “resembling a little rock”
>99% girls
Ariana
“resembling silver” · “one who is holy”
>99% girls
Elise
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls