Elen
Girl name · English · Greek · Italian
Meaningtorch, light · Welsh form of Helen
- US rank
- #10,917
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,956 in 1911
8 babies were named Elen in the US in 2025. It has climbed 1,225 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1911–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Elen you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 200,000 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Elen, 8 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Elen would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryElen first shows up in US birth records in 1911, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 114 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1911, when it ranked #1,956. Today it's #10,917, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendElen has climbed 1,225 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #10,917. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningElen is a Welsh form of Helen, which means “torch, light”. Our records link it to English, Greek and Italian roots.
About the name Elen
Elen is a girl name of English, Greek and Italian origin meaning “torch, light”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with E and ending in “-len”. US birth records list Elen for girls from 1911 to 2025, in 54 of those 115 years. Its best year was 1911, when it ranked #1,956 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #10,917, with 8 babies.
Origin:English namesGreek namesItalian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 6.9 | 144,231 girls |
| 1920s | 3.1 | 326,797 girls |
| 1930s | 1.1 | 934,579 girls |
| 1940s | 0.6 | 1,587,302 girls |
| 1950s | 0.7 | 1,428,571 girls |
| 1960s | 0.3 | 4,000,000 girls |
| 1970s | 0.3 | 2,941,176 girls |
| 1980s | 1.8 | 543,478 girls |
| 1990s | 1.7 | 591,716 girls |
| 2000s | 4.0 | 252,525 girls |
| 2010s | 4.8 | 210,084 girls |
| 2020s | 6.3 | 159,574 girls |
Other spellings of Elen
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Elen
What does the name Elen mean?
Elen means “torch, light” in Welsh, as a form of Helen.
What is the origin of the name Elen?
Elen has English, Greek, Italian roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Elen a boy or girl name?
Elen is a girl name.
How popular is the name Elen?
Elen ranked #10,917 for US girls in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 1911 (#1,956).