Eleni

Eleni - A very unique female name

Eleni appeared on the charts for the first time in 1956 on position #2187. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Eleni and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Eleni? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Eleni. The baby girl name Eleni was given to 197 baby girls in 2025, ranking #1016 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,617 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Eleni peaked in popularity 33 years ago in 1993 on position 978.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Eleni, 1-5?

Eleni is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Eleni is currently topping the baby name charts in Nevada at position #451 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,327.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Eleni is where you live.

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Eleni origin and meaning

Greek form of Helen — root uncertain

The Greek form of Helen; Helen's own derivation is disputed — 'torch' is the usual claim, but it is not proven and the name may be pre-Greek

Eleni is Helen as it is actually said and spelled in modern Greek. Helen's etymology has been debated for centuries — 'torch' and a link to Selene, the moon, are the familiar claims, and neither is established. Eleni has been in the US data since 1956, carried by Greek-American families, and reached its highest point so far in 2024.

Origin uncertain

Eleni is a 5 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Eleni, pop culture references for the name Eleni and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Eleni

We've found the following names that sound similar to Eleni, sorted by popularity.

Elaine / Ellen / Eileen / Elena / Eliana / Elaina / Elliana / Elma / Elianna / Elana /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Eleni

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Eleni a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Eleni?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

eh-LEH-nee · /ɛˈlɛni/

Around the world

• Eleni (Greek) — The original modern Greek form
• Helen (English) — The English cognate of the same name
• Hélène (French) — The French cognate

Spellings and nicknames

• Elena — A related form used across Europe, a separate established name
• Helen — The English form, a separate name

Nicknames: LeniElena

Famous bearers

• Eleni Foureira — Greek singer who represented Cyprus at Eurovision 2018 with 'Fuego' (b. 1987) Contemporary

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Eleni for a Greek name in its authentic modern form — softer and less expected than Elena or Helen. It feels sunny and elegant.

Worth knowing

• Americans split between eh-LEH-nee and eh-LAY-nee
• Often assumed to be Elena at a glance