Elenoa
A feminine name of Polynesian origin meaning "bright shining light".
Name Census estimates that about 56 living Americans carry the first name Elenoa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Elenoa today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Elenoa births was 2018 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Elenoa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Elenoa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
56
~ 1 in 6,120,613 Americans
Peak year
2018
9 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,496
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Elenoa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Elenoa from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 26 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Elenoa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elenoa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Elenoa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Elenoas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Elenoa
The name Elenoa is believed to have originated from the Samoan language, spoken primarily in the Samoan Islands, which are located in the Central Pacific Ocean. It is a variation of the name Eleni, which is derived from the Greek name Helena.
In Samoan culture, the name Elenoa is traditionally given to girls and is thought to mean "bright" or "shining." This name has been used in the Samoan Islands for centuries, and its origins can be traced back to ancient Polynesian traditions and beliefs.
While there are no known historical references to the name Elenoa in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in Samoan genealogical records dating back to the 18th century.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Elenoa was Elenoa Alama Arra Savaii, a Samoan princess and chieftain who lived in the late 18th century. She was renowned for her leadership and played a significant role in the political affairs of her time.
Another prominent figure with the name Elenoa was Elenoa Tusitala, a Samoan writer and poet who lived in the early 20th century. She was celebrated for her contributions to the preservation of Samoan culture and literature.
In the realm of sports, Elenoa Purcell, a Samoan-American volleyball player who represented the United States in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, is a notable figure with this name.
Elenoa Mavaega, a Samoan-American politician and former member of the United States House of Representatives, served as a Delegate from American Samoa from 2003 to 2015.
Lastly, Elenoa Tui'inukuafe, a Samoan-American actress and model, has gained recognition for her roles in various television shows and films, including the critically acclaimed series "The Mandalorian."
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Elenoa, which has its roots in the rich cultural heritage of the Samoan Islands.
People
Elenoa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Elenoa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Elenoa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Elenoa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 56 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Elenoa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 6,120,613 US residents.
Is Elenoa a common name?
We classify Elenoa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 56% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 57 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Elenoa most popular?
The single biggest year for Elenoa was 2018, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Elenoa is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Elenoa in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Elenoa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Elenoa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Elenoa still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Elenoa in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Elenoa can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Elenoa?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.