Given name & surname
Olena
“the shining light”
In Russian use, Olena carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Original RussianЕле́на
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Russian use, Olena carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Russian.
How it developed
Olena is used as a form of Helen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Olena 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
Olena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 920
- 0 boys · 920 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 35 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #5,866 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +85%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,866 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 85.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Hawaii had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,978 as a first name in 2020; 255 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.
Olena’s family of names
In Ingrian usage, Olena has a diminutive in Olo. Olena shares a linguistic root with Helen. In Ingrian usage, Olena has a conventional equivalent in the English form Ellen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Olena has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Russian roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 8
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 31
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Алёнаsource · Russian
- Еле́наRussian
- Elenaequivalent
- Lenaequivalent
- Helenaequivalent
- Helencognate · English
- Alenaequivalent
- EllenEnglish
Show 23 moreShow fewer
- Eleniequivalent
- Leenaequivalent
- Yelenaequivalent
- Heleneequivalent
- Jelenaequivalent
- Alyonaequivalent
- Alenkaequivalent
- Jelaequivalent
- Leneequivalent
- Lenkaequivalent
- Аленаequivalent
- Еленаequivalent
- Έλεναequivalent
- Lénaequivalent
- Jeļenaequivalent
- Lenuțaequivalent
- Lenkeequivalent
- Helkaequivalent
- Hélèneequivalent
- Јеленаequivalent
- Helénaequivalent
- Оле́наUkrainian
- Але́наBelarusian
People named Olena
- Olena ZelenskaFirst Lady of Ukraine since 2019born 1978
- Olena TopoliaUkrainian singerborn 1986
- Aljona SavchenkoUkrainian & German pair skaterborn 1984
- Olena PchilkaUkrainian academic (1849–1930)
- Olena KostevychUkrainian sport shooterborn 1985
- Olena BilosiukUkrainian biathleteborn 1987
- Olena ApanovychUkrainian historian (1919-2000)
- Olena DemyanenkoUkrainian film director, producer, screenwriterborn 1966
- Olena TelihaUkrainian poet (1906–1942)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Olena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tatiana
“queen of the fairies”
>99% girls
Ottilie
“a wealthy man”
>99% girls
Ellenor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Korol
“king”
—
Ellinor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Manko
“a king”
—
Emiline
Emiline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls