Best 100 Middle Names for Elena in 2023
Elena is a name that carries with it a sense of refinement and class. Gaining popularity in the United States in the mid-2000s when parents gravitated towards “El” names, Elena has become a very popular choice.
If you’re considering naming your baby girl Elena, we’ve gathered some of our favorite middle names for Elena below.
Meaning of the Name Elena
The name Elena has roots in Greek, Spanish, Italian, Slavic, and Romanian and comes from the name Helen. Helen is thought to be derived from a few ancient Greek words with a variety of meanings.
The Greek word helene means “torch.” The word helios means “beautiful,” “light,” “bright,” and “shining.” Finally, the word selene means “moon.”
Due to roots in a variety of languages, Elena has multiple pronunciations. Through our research from community forums and pronouncenames.com, we gathered six common different pronunciations for the name Elena.
| Origin | Greek |
| Pronunciation | ell-en-uh / eh-lay-nah / ay-lay-nah / ee-lay-na / el-ay-nah / uh-lean-uh |
Best Middle Names for Elena
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite middle names for Elena. With a variety of pronunciation options, keep pronunciation in mind when you read out loud these combinations.
- Elena Amor
- Elena Ann
- Elena Annaliese
- Elena Annette
- Elena Arielle
- Elena Beatrice
- Elena Belle
- Elena Birdine
- Elena Braelyn
- Elena Briar
- Elena Caroline
- Elena Catherine
- Elena Charlotte
- Elena Danielle
- Elena Dianne
- Elena Dior
- Elena Eileen
- Elena Elise
- Elena Eve
- Elena Everly
- Elena Faith
- Elena Fay
- Elena Fern
- Elena Flor
- Elena Frances
- Elena Gabrielle
- Elena Genevieve
- Elena Gisselle
- Elena Grace
- Elena Grayson
- Elena Gwen
- Elena Harlee
- Elena Haven
- Elena Haylee
- Elena Hazel
- Elena Irene
- Elena Iris
- Elena Isabelle
- Elena Jade
- Elena Jane
- Elena Josaphine
- Elena Joy
- Elena June
- Elena Juniper
- Elena Kali
- Elena Kate
- Elena Kaydence
- Elena Kenley
- Elena Kenzie
- Elena Liv
- Elena Louise
- Elena Lucia
- Elena Lucille
- Elena Luisa
- Elena Luna
- Elena Luzette
- Elena Mackenzie
- Elena Madeline
- Elena Maeve
- Elena Magdalene
- Elena Magnolia
- Elena Maren
- Elena May
- Elena Monroe
- Elena Nadine
- Elena Nell
- Elena Neve
- Elena Nicole
- Elena Noelle
- Elena Nori
- Elena Orah
- Elana Ori
- Elena Pearl
- Elena Penelope
- Elena Phoebe
- Elena Raven
- Elena Reagan
- Elena Reese
- Elena River
- Elena Rose
- Elena Ryan
- Elena Saige
- Elena Sapphire
- Elena Sawyer
- Elena Saylor
- Elena Shay
- Elena Skylar
- Elena Sloan
- Elena Sophie
- Elena Taelyn
- Elena Tatiana
- Elena Taylor
- Elena Teegan
- Elena Tyler
- Elena Vail
- Elena Victoria
- Elena Waverly
- Elena Winslow
- Elena Wren
- Elena Wrenley
CHECK OUT CUSTOM NAME SIGNS HERE
How To Pick a Middle Name
Do You Need A Middle Name?
In short, no. You do not need to give your child a middle name. You can choose to only give your child a first name and last name. There are no laws or requirements in regard to middle names.
However, according to research in the European Journal of Social Psychology, using middle initials in your name increases people’s perception of your intelligence.
Providing your child with a middle name will help differentiate them from others who share their same name. It also gives them a second option. Some children choose to go by their middle names instead of their first names as they grow older.
We all know how important it is to find the perfect name for our children. But did you know that in some cultures, middle names can be used as a way to give your child an additional identity? A new connection with their family history or heritage.
Here we will explore the things you should consider when giving your children a middle name!
Family Names
A child’s middle name is a great way to honor a beloved family member. It could be someone who has passed or a living family member who means a lot to the parents. Middle names don’t need to be gender-specific, so this could be a good place to include male or female family members.
Some parents like to include family surnames, such as the mother’s maiden name, as a middle name. This allows both sides of the family to pass down their name to the child. Any name that is meaningful to the family can make a nice middle name.
Flow and Initials
Probably the most important thing parents think of when choosing their child’s name is how it all sounds together. The first, middle, and last name should flow nicely together.
Many popular middle names are short, one or two syllable names because they pair well with most first names.
If family members speak another language or have an accent, take into consideration how everyone will be pronouncing the names when determining how they fit together
Monograms are popular in Southern culture, but it is still helpful to consider your child’s initials regardless of where you live.
Monograms for women are typically in the order of first name initial, large last name initial, and then middle name initial.
For men, the initials are usually in order of first, middle, and then last name. Avoid spelling out unfortunate words with the initials.
Middle names and their initials can also be used for nicknames. For example, Mary Elizabeth can be shortened to Mary Beth. Or, Elizabeth Zoe can be shortened to the initials E. Z. As a nickname.
If you just can’t narrow it down to a first name and a middle name, you can always include multiple middle names. In the United States, most people only have one middle name, but it is common around the world to have two or more.
It is recommended not to add too many middle names though. Most paperwork only leaves a spot for a single middle name or initial and multiple names can lead to confusion.
Special Meanings
A child’s middle name is a great way to pay homage to anything that holds special meaning to the parents. Some inspiration for names includes:
- Influential people in your life
- Characters from books, movies, or television
- Locations hold memories
- Languages that are important to the family
Looking for a high chair? Read about the Best High Chair for Counter Height Table
First Name for Middle Name Elena
If you want Elena for a middle name and are still brainstorming a first name, we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered our favorite first name options for middle name Elena.
- Abigail Elena
- Ainsley Elena
- Astrid Elena
- Bernadette Elena
- Bethany Elena
- Briar Elena
- Bridget Elena
- Brooklyn Elena
- Charlotte Elena
- Chloe Elena
- Dahlia Elena
- Daniella Elena
- Desiree Elena
- Emery Elena
- Erica Elena
- Evelyn Elena
- Felicity Elena
- Florence Elena
- Freya Elena
- Georgia Elena
- Gianna Elena
- Gwyneth Elena
- Hadley Elena
- Hannah Elena
- Harper Elena
- Ingrid Elena
- Jacqueline Elena
- Jenna Elena
- Josephine Elena
- Julianna Elena
- Kaitlin Elena
- Kristin Elena
- Laurel Elena
- Levi Elena
- Lilibeth Elena
- Madelyn Elena
- Margaret Elena
- Mia Elena
- Mikayla Elena
- Natalia Elena
- Nora Elena
- Opal Elena
- Ophelia Elena
- Penelope Elena
- Regan Elena
- Riley Elena
- Rowan Elena
- Sarah Elena
- Seraphine Elena
- Sophie Elena
- Taylor Elena
- Tiffany Elena
- Trinity Elena
- Victoria Elena
- Vivienne Elena
- Willow Elena
Nicknames for Elena
Elena has some a great variety of nickname options that we just love.
- Ella
- Ellie
- Lena
- Lennie
- Nellie
- Nena
Variations of Elena
Depending on what part of the world you are in, Elena has a lot of variations.
- Alena (German, Czech, Russain)
- Alenka (Slovenian)
- Alyona (Russian)
- Elene (Georgian)
- Helen (English)
- Helena; Eliana (Portuguese)
- Eline (Dutch, Noregian)
- Ileana (Romanian, Italian, Spanish)
Similar Names to Elena
If you love the name Elena but are trying to stay away from the super popular girls’ names, take a look at these similar name ideas.
- Alina
- Amara
- Anastasia
- Aria
- Athena
- Clara
- Diana
- Eliana
- Elise
- Eliza
- Ella
- Eva
- Helena
- Isabella
- Lena
- Lila
- Lucia
- Mia
- Mila
- Mira
- Nina
- Stella
Sibling Boy Names that go with Elena
If you’re adding a baby boy to your family, here are some great boy names that go well with Elena.
- Elena and Adrian
- Elena and Alexander
- Elena and Andrew
- Elena and Ashton
- Elena and Barrett
- Elena and Blake
- Elena and Brooks
- Elena and Cameron
- Elena and Carter
- Elena and Christian
- Elena and David
- Elena and Dylan
- Elena and Easton
- Elena and Elliot
- Elena and Evan
- Elena and Felix
- Elena and Gabriel
- Elena and Henry
- Elena and Isaac
- Elena and Jace
- Elena and Jasper
- Elena and Joseph
- Elena and Julien
- Elena and Keegan
- Elena and Kingston
- Elena and Leon
- Elena and Lucas
- Elena and Mason
- Elena and Miles
- Elena and Nathan
- Elena and Nicholas
- Elena and Nolan
- Elena and Oliver
- Elena and Owen
- Elena and Roman
- Elena and Ryker
- Elena and Samuel
- Elena and Simon
- Elena and Spencer
- Elena and Theodore
- Elena and Tristan
- Elena and Victor
- Elena and Waylon
- Elena and Wyatt
- Elena and Xander
Sibling Girl Names that go with Elena
If you’re having another daughter you might be on the search for a girl’s name. We’ve put together our favorite girl names that go well with Elena.
- Elena and Adalyn
- Elena and Alice
- Elena and Amara
- Elena and Amelia
- Elena and Aurora
- Elena and Bethany
- Elena and Brittney
- Elena and Cecilia
- Elena and Charlotte
- Elena and Clara
- Elena and Cynthia
- Elena and Dora
- Elena and Eden
- Elena and Emma
- Elena and Evelyn
- Elena and Fiona
- Elena and Gianna
- Elena and Grace
- Elena and Harper
- Elena and Iris
- Elena and Jade
- Elena and Jasmine
- Elena and Juliet
- Elena and Katrina
- Elena and Kaylee
- Elena and Liliana
- Elena and Louisa
- Elena and Mabel
- Elena and Margaret
- Elena and Mary
- Elena and Natalia
- Elena and Olivia
- Elena and Penelope
- Elena and Riley
- Elena and Ruby
- Elena and Sadie
- Elena and Sage
- Elena and Scarlett
- Elena and Serena
- Elena and Sophia
- Elena and Stella
- Elena and Tiffany
- Elena and Victoria
- Elena and Violet
- Elena and Whitney
Find the Best Nursery Glider for Tall Parents
History of the name Elena
Elena was borne from Greek mythology as the Spartan queen whose abduction sparked the Trojan War.
The name spread through Europe during the Middle Ages from the popularity of the 4th century saint Helena of Constantinople. She was the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine.
Helena influenced many different name forms suchs as Eileen, Elaine, Ellen, Elin, Elena, and Helen.
Elena is common among Italian, Slavic, and Spanish Speakers. In the United States, Elena has remained in the 400 to 600 range on the popular baby naming charts since the 1900s according to the Social Security Administration.
In 1974 the name broke into the 300 range, in 1997 it jumped to the 200 range, and by 2016 it finally broke into the top 100 names. Since 2016 the popularity has skyrocketed.
As of 2021, Elena ranks as the 53rd most popular girl’s name in the United States.
Famous People with the Name Elena
| Elena Altieri | Italian actress appeared in 27 films between 1937-1955 |
| Elena Anaya | Spanish actress in The Skin I Live In |
| Elena Carapetis | Greek-Australian actress in in Heartbreak High |
| Elena Delle Donne | American basketball player |
| Elena Dementieva | Russian former tennis player |
| Elena Gerasimova | Russian artistic gymnast |
| Elena Goode | American actress in soap opera As The World Turns |
| Elena Goulding | British singer-songwriter (known as Ellie) |
| Elena Grushina | Ukrainian figure skater |
| Elena Kagan | Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States |
| Princess Elena of Montenegro | Wife of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy |
| Elena Siegman | American singer and lead producer of Guitar Hero II |
| Elena Vesnina | Russian tennis player |
| Elena Zamolodchikova | Russian gymnast |
Fictional Characters Named Elena
| Elena | a Soviet scientist in the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey |
| Elena | from Street Fighter III |
| Elena Alvarez | teenage daughter on One Day at a Time |
| Elena Castillo Flores | Disney princess from the animated television series Elena of Avalor |
| Elena Gilbert | from The Vampire Diaries |
| Elena Greco | character in the Neapolitan Novels, a 4-part series by the Italian author Elena Ferrante |
| Elena of Turks | from Final Fantasy VII |
| Elena Tyler | a character in Warner Bros. series Felicity |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elena a popular name?
Elena broke into the top 100 girl names in 2016 and has continued to rise in popularity. In 2020, Elena ranked as the 55th girl’s name given in the United States.
What’s a nickname for Elena?
Some nicknames include Ella, Ellie, Lena, Lennie, or Nellie.
What nationality is the name Elena?
Elena has roots in Greek, Spanish, Italian, Slavic, and Romanian.
Final Thoughts on Middle Names for Elena
Elena is a beautiful, sophisticated name with roots in a variety of languages. Through our research we’ve discovered there are multiple names to pronounce Elena depending on your preference.
If you’re considering naming your little girl Elena, we hope our list of middle names for Elena helps you to find a perfect combination.
MORE MIDDLE NAME IDEAS
Now that you’ve seen all the middle name ideas for Elena, you might want to check out some middle name ideas for these similar names!
- Middle Names for Aria
- Middle Names for Clara
- Middle Names for Eliana
- Middle Names for Isabella
- Middle Names for Lola
If you’re looking for more middle name ideas, you can find all our lists in our Middle Names section.
For more baby name ideas and inspiration head over to our Baby Names section.
Krissy lives in California with her family of three that make up “The Hadicks.” With a passion for research and helping others, The Hadicks was developed as a resource for other parents and parents-to-be!