Rising since 1986, #1,796 for girls today.
Popularity of Yelena since 1961
Babies named Yelena per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 53 |
| 1990s | 151 |
| 2000s | 480 |
| 2010s | 422 |
| 2020s | 491 |
Meaning & origin
Yelena, the Russian form of Helen, has been used in the United States since at least 1961, though it remained very rare for decades. Its recent rise in popularity, climbing steadily since 1986, reflects broader interest in Slavic names. In 2025 it ranked 1,796th, with about 1 in every 14,351 newborn girls receiving the name. Its peak year so far was 2022, and the name has been most concentrated in Arizona, Texas, and California. Yelena offers a distinctive alternative to the more common Elena, carrying the meaning 'shining light' and a strong cultural heritage.
Yelena is the Russian form of Helen, which derives from Greek Helene, likely from helene meaning 'torch' or 'bright, shining.' The name entered Russian via Old Church Slavonic and has been common in Russia and other Slavic countries for centuries. It is also used in other Eastern European languages as a variant of Elena.
Where Yelena is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yelena” around the world
Where Yelena lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lena, Yelya, Elena
Sibling names for Yelena
Names that share Yelena's style, for a brother or sister.
