Rising since 1985, #1,038 for girls today.
Popularity of Eleni since 1946
Babies named Eleni per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 22 |
| 1950s | 100 |
| 1960s | 239 |
| 1970s | 469 |
| 1980s | 762 |
| 1990s | 1,275 |
| 2000s | 1,319 |
| 2010s | 1,420 |
| 2020s | 1,216 |
Meaning & origin
Eleni entered U.S. records in 1946 and has been rising in popularity since 1985, a trajectory that accelerated in recent years. At its peak rank of 1,038 in 2025, the name was given to roughly 1 in 6,697 girls. Eleni is most common in states with significant Greek American populations, such as Nevada, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The name's connection to Saint Helen and its melodic sound have contributed to its steady appeal, bridging Greek heritage with modern American naming trends.
Eleni is the modern Greek form of Helen, derived from the Greek word 'helenē' meaning 'torch' or 'light.' It has been a common name in Greece for centuries, associated with Saint Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine. In the English-speaking world, the name gained traction in the 20th century through Greek diaspora communities.
Where Eleni is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Eleni” around the world
Where Eleni lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Quebec
8
babies in 2025
Sources: Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Leni, Ella, Nina, Lena
Sibling names for Eleni
Names that share Eleni's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sophia, Alexandra, Katerina, Maria, Daphne, Despina, Dimitra, Fotini, Ioanna, Konstantina, Panagiota, Stavroula, Vasiliki, Aleka, Angeliki, Dimitria, Ekaterini, Eleftheria, Toula, Evagelia, Kyriaki, Nefeli, Panayiota, Paraskevi, Vasilia, Yianna
Brothers: Nicholas, Dimitri, Theodore, Alexander, George, Alexandros, Athanasios, Christos, Demetrios, Dimitrios, Ioannis, Konstantinos, Nikolaos, Panagiotis, Anastasios, Constantinos, Dimitris, Evangelos, Georgios, Giannis, Loukas, Markos, Meliton, Nikos, Petros, Spiros, Stavros, Theodoros, Yanis, Yannis, Yianni, Yiannis, Antonios, Apostolos, Costas, Gerasimos, Haralambos, Kostantinos, Kostas, Kyrillos, Leonides, Nikolos, Sotirios, Stefanos, Stelios, Symeon, Vasilis, Eleftherios, Demetres, Demitrios, Kimon, Kyriakos, Marios, Maximos, Minas, Nicholaos, Nickolaos, Nikolis, Panayiotis, Pantelis, Pavlos, Spyridon, Spyros, Stephanos
