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