What does Elena mean?
A form of Helen, from the Greek, “torch” or “bright, shining light.”
What does Cora mean?
From the Greek kore, “maiden,” an epithet of Persephone.
Elena vs Cora
Which is more popular?
Elena is more popular than Cora today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 2,428 named Cora.
| Elena | Cora | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, shining light | Maiden |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-LAY-nuh | KOR-uh |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (4,836) | 2019 (3,602) |
| In 2025 | 4,836 | 2,428 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elena
Cora
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elena | Cora |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 26,192 | 16,879 |
| 2010s | 28,804 | 27,816 |
| 2000s | 15,699 | 7,745 |
| 1990s | 9,500 | 3,323 |
| 1980s | 6,300 | 2,224 |
| 1970s | 5,281 | 2,093 |
| 1960s | 4,744 | 3,393 |
| 1950s | 3,454 | 5,869 |
| 1940s | 2,247 | 8,749 |
| 1930s | 1,638 | 11,253 |
| 1920s | 2,169 | 16,161 |
| 1910s | 1,335 | 15,317 |
| 1900s | 376 | 10,372 |
| 1890s | 200 | 12,880 |
| 1880s | 74 | 11,954 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elena or Cora more popular?
Elena is more popular than Cora today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 2,428 named Cora.
What is the difference between Elena and Cora?
Elena means Bright, shining light (Greek origin), while Cora means Maiden (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Elena or Cora?
In US records, Elena first appears in 1880 and Cora in 1880, so Elena has the longer recorded history.