Meaning & History
Elin is a Scandinavian and Welsh form of the name Helen. Helen itself derives from the Greek Ἑλένη (Helene), which probably originates from the Greek word ἑλένη meaning "torch" or "corposant", or is possibly linked to σελήνη (selene) meaning "moon". In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and her abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War. The name was also borne by Saint Helena (c. 246–330), mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, who is credited with discovering the True Cross. In early Christian usage, the name became popular in honor of the saint rather than the mythological figure. In England, the form Ellen was common during the Middle Ages, while Helen became standard after the Renaissance.
Related Names
Other Languages & Cultures
(Sorbian)
Helena (Greek Mythology)
Helene (Czech)
Elen (Armenian)
Heghine (Ukrainian)
Lena (English)
Elaine (Sardinian)
Elene (Belarusian)
Alena 2 (Spanish)
Elena (Slovene)
Jelena, Ela 1 (Slovak)
Jela (Serbian)
Jelica (Slovene)
Jelka (Polish)
Ilona (Slovene)
Alena 1 (Polish)
Helenka (Hungarian)
Ilonka (Slovak)
Lenka (Dutch)
Heleen, Eline, Heleentje (German)
Ellen 1 (Greek Mythology)
Helen (English)
Elaina (Hungarian)
Ella 2 (English)
Elle, Ellena, Ellie, Elly, Hellen, Lainey, Laney, Nell, Nelle, Nellie (French)
Nelly (Finnish)
Elina, Heli 2 (Estonian)
Helle 1 (Finnish)
Leena, Eliina, Elli 2, Heleena (Ukrainian)
Nelli (French)
Hélène, Éléna (Hungarian)
Léna (French)
Leyna (German)
Hella (Hungarian)
Ilka (German)
Lene, Leni (Greek)
Eleni (Hungarian)
Heléna, Ili, Ilike (Icelandic)
Elín (Irish)
Léan (Spanish)
Ileana (Latvian)
Elīna, Helēna, Jeļena, Elēna, Ina, Liene, Līna, Nellija (Romanian)
Ilinca, Lenuța (Russian)
Yelena (Ukrainian)
Aliona, Alyona (Russian)
Alyonka (Ukrainian)
Nelya (Slovene)
Alenka (Ukrainian)
Olena
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Sources: Wikipedia — Elin