Origin: Spanish
The Spanish-sounding Elena has Spanish, Italian and Greek roots. It’s a European version of the name Helen, meaning “torch” or “shining light.”
Elena is a more popular baby name today than similar el-names, like Ellen or the distinguished Eleanor, but it’s still unique enough to consider.
It’s also the name of one of the newer Disney princesses, Elena of Avalor, and Elena Kagan, associate justice of the Supreme Court, the fourth female to hold that position.