| Eleni | Theodora | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Torch; bright light (disputed) | gift of God |
| Origin | greek | greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-LEH-nee | thee-ə-DOR-ə |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2024 (255) | 2022 (426) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 384 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Eleni | Theodora |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,216 | 2,234 |
| 2010s | 1,420 | 1,126 |
| 2000s | 1,319 | 447 |
| 1990s | 1,275 | 457 |
| 1980s | 762 | 428 |
| 1970s | 469 | 436 |
| 1960s | 239 | 715 |
| 1950s | 100 | 1,041 |
| 1940s | 22 | 1,411 |
| 1930s | 0 | 1,099 |
| 1920s | 0 | 1,597 |
| 1910s | 0 | 994 |
| 1900s | 0 | 342 |
| 1890s | 0 | 220 |
| 1880s | 0 | 107 |
Modern Greek form of Helen/Helene. The etymology is uncertain: most often linked to Greek 'hele' ('torch') or a root meaning 'shine/bright', with some scholars instead proposing a connection to the moon or a pre-Greek word of unknown meaning. The 'torch/bright light' reading is traditional but not settled.
Feminine of Theodore, from Greek theos 'God' + doron 'gift', meaning 'gift of God'. Shares its elements with Dorothea in reversed order.
Theodora is more popular than Eleni today: about 384 US babies were given the name Theodora in 2025, compared with 0 named Eleni.
Eleni means Torch; bright light (disputed) (greek origin), while Theodora means gift of God (greek origin).
In US records, Eleni first appears in 0 and Theodora in 1880, so Eleni has the longer recorded history.