Yelena
Feminine form of the Greek name Eleni meaning "bright, shining light".
Name Census estimates that about 1,490 living Americans carry the first name Yelena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yelena today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yelena births was 2022 (145 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yelena. 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
- • Yelena is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 16 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.5K
~ 1 in 230,036 Americans
Peak year
2022
145 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,497
Tracked since 1961
Popularity
Yelena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yelena from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 480 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Yelena remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yelena 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 Yelena during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yelenas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Yelena, while New Mexico, Illinois, Arizona recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 50 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Yelena
The name Yelena has its origins in the Greek language. It is a feminine form of the name Eleni, which is derived from the Greek word "helene," meaning "bright one" or "torch." This name can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was associated with the concept of light and radiance.
The name Yelena gained popularity in various Slavic countries, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, where it was adapted with a slight variation in spelling. In these regions, the name was often written as "Elena" or "Yelena," and it held cultural and linguistic significance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yelena can be found in the Byzantine Empire, where Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, was venerated as a significant figure in early Christianity. She played a crucial role in the establishment of the Christian faith and was renowned for her piety and devotion.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Yelena. One of the most famous was Yelena Sergeyevna Bulgakova (1893-1970), a Russian writer and the third wife of the acclaimed novelist Mikhail Bulgakov. Her memoirs and letters provided valuable insights into the life and work of her husband.
Another prominent figure was Yelena Konstantinovna Chukovskaya (1909-1996), a Soviet writer and dissident. She courageously spoke out against Stalin's regime and documented the horrors of the Gulag labor camps, preserving the memory of those who suffered under the oppressive system.
In the realm of sports, Yelena Isinbayeva (born 1982) is a Russian pole vaulter who has won numerous Olympic and World Championship titles. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in her discipline and has set numerous world records throughout her career.
Another notable figure is Yelena Bonner (1923-2011), a human rights activist and the wife of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov. She tirelessly advocated for human rights and democracy in the Soviet Union, often facing government persecution for her outspoken views.
Finally, Yelena Khanga (1957-2015) was a renowned Russian actress who graced both the stage and the silver screen. She was celebrated for her versatility and her ability to portray complex characters with depth and nuance.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Yelena throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance associated with this name.
People
Yelena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yelena as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yelena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yelena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,490 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yelena 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 230,036 US residents.
Is Yelena a common name?
We classify Yelena as "Rare". It ranks above 92.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,514 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yelena most popular?
The single biggest year for Yelena was 2022, when 145 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yelena is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yelena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yelena 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.
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.