What does Ariana mean?
Usually traced to the Greek Ariadne, “most holy.”
What does Elena mean?
A form of Helen, from the Greek, “torch” or “bright, shining light.”
Ariana vs Elena
Which is more popular?
Elena is more popular than Ariana today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 2,219 named Ariana.
| Ariana | Elena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Most holy | Bright, shining light |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ar-ee-AH-nuh | eh-LAY-nuh |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1957 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2014 (5,504) | 2025 (4,836) |
| In 2025 | 2,219 | 4,836 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ariana
Elena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ariana | Elena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,532 | 26,192 |
| 2010s | 41,342 | 28,804 |
| 2000s | 38,010 | 15,699 |
| 1990s | 18,864 | 9,500 |
| 1980s | 4,685 | 6,300 |
| 1970s | 788 | 5,281 |
| 1960s | 154 | 4,744 |
| 1950s | 5 | 3,454 |
| 1940s | 0 | 2,247 |
| 1930s | 0 | 1,638 |
| 1920s | 0 | 2,169 |
| 1910s | 0 | 1,335 |
| 1900s | 0 | 376 |
| 1890s | 0 | 200 |
| 1880s | 0 | 74 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariana or Elena more popular?
Elena is more popular than Ariana today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 2,219 named Ariana.
What is the difference between Ariana and Elena?
Ariana means Most holy (Greek origin), while Elena means Bright, shining light (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Ariana or Elena?
In US records, Ariana first appears in 1957 and Elena in 1880, so Elena has the longer recorded history.