Ellena is a surname of English origin, itself a variant of the given name Elena. Elena, in turn, is a form of Helen used across many languages, and the name ultimately derives from the Greek Ἑλένη (Helene), which may mean "torch" or "corposant," or be related to σελήνη (selene), meaning "moon." In Greek mythology, Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda whose abduction sparked the Trojan War. The name was also borne by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, who converted to Christianity and reportedly discovered the True Cross. As with other variants of Helen, Ellena is especially found in English-speaking regions. The usage of Ellena as a surname, though less common than as a given name, appears in modern records chiefly in English-speaking countries, particularly the United States, where early immigrants carried it. According to available data, Ellena as a surname likely arises from dialectal or metronymic forms of the medieval given name Ellen, which itself was a common Anglicization of Helen during the Middle Ages. The masculine counterpart Hellen sometimes appears as a variant, but Ellena is distinctly feminine and rarely adopted as a masculine surname. Notable Bearers The Wikipedia article identifies several historical figures with the surname Ellena: Jack Ellena (1931–2012), an American football player; Greg Ellena, a baseball player; Jean-Claude Ellena (born 1947), a French perfumer; Éric Elléna, a French filmmaker active in the 2000s and 2010s; and Richard Ellena (born 1951), Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Nelson in New Zealand. Moreover, the variant Elena names a variety of figures such as Saint Helena, though no other public entries coalesce around Ellena with the same breadth. Cultural and Linguistic Background Apolytically speaking, Ellena aligns with a broader trend across many Indo‑European languages to adapt the Greek selene and torch etymologies that traversed literary cannon from Classical mythology through early Christian appropriation. The form Ellena is likely also supported by repeated usage of Elena as a matter-of-course compounding in Middle English before standardization to the Norman-likened Helena. Surname entries captured geographically reflect Ellena’s density in Western Europe, with extended branches crossing the Appalachian regions as early immigrants settled and documented their family legacies. Meaning: Variant of Elena, derived from Greek Helene (torch, moon). Origin: Greek through Latin and English adaptation. Type: First name, occasionally a surname. Usage regions: English-speaking countries.