Meaning & History
Elēna is a Latvian feminine given name, serving as a form of Helen. It is a variant of the more common Helēna, influenced by Italian and Spanish Elena. The name has been recorded in Latvia since the 1891, gaining modest but enduring popularity.
The root name Helen ultimately derives from the Greek Ἑλένη (Helene), which may come from ἑλένη ("torch" or "corposant") or be connected to σελήνη ("moon"). In Greek mythology, Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction sparked the Trojan War. The name gained Christian prominence through Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, who reportedly discovered the True Cross.
Latvian variants and diminutives include Elīna, Jeļena, Ina, Liene, and Līna. Cognates in other languages include Helene (Swedish), Helena (Swedish), Elen (Welsh), Lena (Ukrainian), and Elaine (English).
Distribution
As of 2010, 145 individuals in Latvia bore Elēna as their only given name, according to the Population Register of Latvia.
- Meaning: Torch, corposant, or moon (via Helen)
- Origin: Latvian form of Helen
- Type: Feminine given name
- Usage regions: Latvia
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Elēna