Given name & surname
Jelena
“the shining light”
In English use, Jelena is a variant of Yelena. In Russian use, Yelena carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Original RussianЕлена
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Russian use, Jelena carries the interpretation “the shining light.” In English use, Jelena is a variant of Yelena. In Russian use, Yelena carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Russian.
How it developed
Jelena is used as a form of Helen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1959. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Jelena 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
Jelena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,633
- 0 boys · 1,633 girls
- Most popular year
- 2017
- 68 babies
- 2025
- 26
- #5,030 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −36%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 26 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,030 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 36.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 68 in 2017. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,070 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.
Jelena’s family of names
In German usage, Jelena has a short form in Alena. In English usage, Jelena shares an earlier linguistic root with Helen. In Ingrian usage, Jelena has a conventional equivalent in the English form Ellen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Jelena has relatives in 10 languages. Lines run from its Russian roots to each of them.
Russianwhere Jelena comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Elenavariant · Czech, German
- Alenashort form · German
- Yelenavariant · English
- Jalenavariant
- Jalaynavariant
- Jelinavariant
- Jalainavariant
- Jalainevariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 24
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Jelena
- Jelena JankovićSerbian tennis playerborn 1985
- Gigi HadidAmerican fashion model and television personality (born 1995)
- Jelena KarleušaSerbian singerborn 1978
- Jelena DokicCroatian, later Australian, female tennis playerborn 1983
- Jelena TomaševićSerbian pop singerborn 1983
- Jelena Kostanić TošićCroatian tennis playerborn 1981
- Jelena RozgaCroatian pop singerborn 1977
- Helen of ZadarQueen consort of Kingdom of Croatia
- Jelena BlagojevićSerbian volleyball player (born 1988)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Jelena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tatiana
“queen of the fairies”
>99% girls
Ellenor
“shining light”
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Ellinor
“shining light”
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Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Emiline
Emiline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Korol
“king”
—
Manko
“a king”
—
Emelyn
Emelyn is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls