What does Elin mean?
Elin is the Welsh form of Helen, “light” or “torch.”
What does Seren mean?
The modern Welsh word for 'star', a popular girls' name in Wales. (A separate Turkish surname Seren is unrelated.)
Elin vs Seren
Which is more popular?
Elin is more popular than Seren today: about 53 US babies were given the name Elin in 2025, compared with 50 named Seren.
| Elin | Seren | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light | Star |
| Origin | Welsh | welsh |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-in | SEH-ren |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1893 | 1981 |
| Peak year | 2011 (428) | 2016 (62) |
| In 2025 | 53 | 50 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elin
Seren
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elin | Seren |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 553 | 214 |
| 2010s | 3,032 | 471 |
| 2000s | 369 | 255 |
| 1990s | 143 | 62 |
| 1980s | 145 | 24 |
| 1970s | 111 | 0 |
| 1960s | 109 | 0 |
| 1950s | 138 | 0 |
| 1940s | 164 | 0 |
| 1930s | 77 | 0 |
| 1920s | 85 | 0 |
| 1910s | 87 | 0 |
| 1900s | 25 | 0 |
| 1890s | 14 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elin or Seren more popular?
Elin is more popular than Seren today: about 53 US babies were given the name Elin in 2025, compared with 50 named Seren.
What is the difference between Elin and Seren?
Elin means Light (Welsh origin), while Seren means Star (welsh origin).
Which name is older, Elin or Seren?
In US records, Elin first appears in 1893 and Seren in 1981, so Elin has the longer recorded history.