Elena

The name Elena is a girl's name of Spanish, Italian, Greek origin meaning "bright, shining light". Elena, a pan-European version of Helen, has roots in Spanish, Italian, Slavic, and Romanian, among others. Helen, the name from which it derives, came from the Greek word helene, meaning “torch.” Alternate spellings include Elaina, Ellena, and Alena. Elena has never been as popular in the U.S. as it is now thanks to the overall popularity of El-names. It's more exotic than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible. It is also ranking other countries as well—it is highly popular in Spain, where it is pronounced ee-LAY-na. It may be because of the large Spanish-heritage community in the US that the ee-LAY-na pronunciation has traditionally been more common here. But in fact EH-leh-na—basically Ellen with an a at the end—is equally appropriate and the usual pronunciation in such countries as Italy and Germany. So English speakers can choose whichever pronunciation they prefer but know that it will frequently be pronounced—or in your eyes, mispronounced the other way. A worthy namesake is Elena Kagan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the fourth female to hold that position. Pseudonymous Italian writer Elena Ferrante, author of the Neapolitan Novels, is another famous Elena. A fictional bearer is Elena Gilbert, protagonist of The Vampire Diaries. and Elena Lincoln is a character in Fifty Shades of Grey.