What does Elena mean?
A form of Helen, from the Greek, “torch” or “bright, shining light.”
What does Genesis mean?
Genesis is the Greek word for “origin” or “beginning.”
Elena vs Genesis
Which is more popular?
Elena is more popular than Genesis today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 3,527 named Genesis.
| Elena | Genesis | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, shining light | Origin, beginning |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-LAY-nuh | JEN-uh-sis |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1964 |
| Peak year | 2025 (4,836) | 2016 (4,351) |
| In 2025 | 4,836 | 3,527 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elena
Genesis
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elena | Genesis |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 26,192 | 21,524 |
| 2010s | 28,804 | 40,524 |
| 2000s | 15,699 | 21,434 |
| 1990s | 9,500 | 8,685 |
| 1980s | 6,300 | 1,121 |
| 1970s | 5,281 | 278 |
| 1960s | 4,744 | 12 |
| 1950s | 3,454 | 0 |
| 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 Genesis more popular?
Elena is more popular than Genesis today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 3,527 named Genesis.
What is the difference between Elena and Genesis?
Elena means Bright, shining light (Greek origin), while Genesis means Origin, beginning (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Elena or Genesis?
In US records, Elena first appears in 1880 and Genesis in 1964, so Elena has the longer recorded history.