What does Elena mean?
A form of Helen, from the Greek, “torch” or “bright, shining light.”
What does Zoe mean?
From Greek 'zoe' (ζωή) meaning 'life'. Adopted by Hellenistic Jews and early Christians as a translation of Eve ('life').
Elena vs Zoe
Which is more popular?
Zoe is more popular than Elena today: about 5,646 US babies were given the name Zoe in 2025, compared with 4,836 named Elena.
| Elena | Zoe | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, shining light | Life |
| Origin | Greek | greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-LAY-nuh | ZOH-ee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (4,836) | 2012 (6,466) |
| In 2025 | 4,836 | 5,646 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elena
Zoe
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elena | Zoe |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 26,192 | 31,129 |
| 2010s | 28,804 | 58,094 |
| 2000s | 15,699 | 48,755 |
| 1990s | 9,500 | 16,791 |
| 1980s | 6,300 | 1,999 |
| 1970s | 5,281 | 1,120 |
| 1960s | 4,744 | 952 |
| 1950s | 3,454 | 1,109 |
| 1940s | 2,247 | 569 |
| 1930s | 1,638 | 735 |
| 1920s | 2,169 | 694 |
| 1910s | 1,335 | 466 |
| 1900s | 376 | 239 |
| 1890s | 200 | 323 |
| 1880s | 74 | 281 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elena or Zoe more popular?
Zoe is more popular than Elena today: about 5,646 US babies were given the name Zoe in 2025, compared with 4,836 named Elena.
What is the difference between Elena and Zoe?
Elena means Bright, shining light (Greek origin), while Zoe means Life (greek origin).
Which name is older, Elena or Zoe?
In US records, Elena first appears in 1880 and Zoe in 1880, so Elena has the longer recorded history.