What does Cassandra mean?
Cassandra is usually read “shining” or “excelling over men”; she is the tragic prophetess of Troy.
What does Elena mean?
A form of Helen, from the Greek, “torch” or “bright, shining light.”
Cassandra vs Elena
Which is more popular?
Elena is more popular than Cassandra today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 463 named Cassandra.
| Cassandra | Elena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Shining upon men | Bright, shining light |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | kuh-SAN-druh | eh-LAY-nuh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1902 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1990 (7,054) | 2025 (4,836) |
| In 2025 | 463 | 4,836 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cassandra
Elena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cassandra | Elena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,796 | 26,192 |
| 2010s | 6,365 | 28,804 |
| 2000s | 20,128 | 15,699 |
| 1990s | 50,364 | 9,500 |
| 1980s | 44,911 | 6,300 |
| 1970s | 19,016 | 5,281 |
| 1960s | 16,765 | 4,744 |
| 1950s | 7,692 | 3,454 |
| 1940s | 2,660 | 2,247 |
| 1930s | 164 | 1,638 |
| 1920s | 76 | 2,169 |
| 1910s | 61 | 1,335 |
| 1900s | 10 | 376 |
| 1890s | 0 | 200 |
| 1880s | 0 | 74 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cassandra or Elena more popular?
Elena is more popular than Cassandra today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 463 named Cassandra.
What is the difference between Cassandra and Elena?
Cassandra means Shining upon men (Greek origin), while Elena means Bright, shining light (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Cassandra or Elena?
In US records, Cassandra first appears in 1902 and Elena in 1880, so Elena has the longer recorded history.