Find out how popular the first name Ellena has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ellena by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ellena is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 59 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ellena.

The history of the first name Ellena

The name Ellena is a feminine given name with roots in Greek and Latin origins. It is believed to have derived from the Greek name Helena, which means "bright" or "shining light". The name Helena itself is derived from the Greek word "helene", meaning "torch".

In ancient Greek mythology, Helena was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and her abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War. The name was also popular among early Christians, as it was borne by Saint Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.

The variant spelling Ellena emerged in the Middle Ages, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe. It was likely influenced by the Latin word "lumen", meaning "light", further reinforcing the name's connection to radiance and illumination.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ellena can be found in the 13th century, with Ellena di Toscana, an Italian noblewoman and countess of Arborea. Another notable bearer of the name was Ellena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684), an Italian philosopher and one of the first women to receive a doctoral degree.

In the 16th century, Ellena Quirina Giorgi (1580-1662) was an Italian painter and engraver from Venice, known for her religious works and portraits. Later, in the 19th century, Ellena Pavlovna Blavatskaya (1831-1891) was a Russian philosopher and co-founder of the Theosophical Society.

Another famous Ellena was Ellena Raphael (1865-1942), an American educator and social reformer who worked tirelessly to improve educational opportunities for marginalized communities in New York City.

Throughout history, the name Ellena has been a symbol of light, radiance, and enlightenment, reflecting its linguistic roots and the remarkable individuals who have borne this name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ellena was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ellena, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!