Entry № 1908 · Greek origin

Eleni Eleni — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ eh-LEH-nee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"Bright / shining torch (Greek + Saint Helena mother of Constantine)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "bright / shining torch (greek + saint helena mother of constantine)".

Eleni is from the Greek Ελένη (Eléni) — Greek form of Helen + foundational from Greek helene (torch, bright light, moon). A modern American baby name in the broader Greek Orthodox heritage aesthetic. Eleni is one of the foundational Greek feminine names — central to traditional Greek Orthodox heritage. The foundational name connects to foundational Saint Helena / Eleni of Constantinople (c. 246-330 CE) — foundational mother of foundational Emperor Constantine the Great + foundational Augusta Imperatrix + foundational pilgrimage to Holy Land c. 326-328 CE + foundational tradition of discovering foundational True Cross at Calvary + foundational founder of foundational Church of the Holy Sepulchre + Church of the Nativity Bethlehem + Church on Mount of Olives + foundational central to foundational Christian veneration + foundational feast day May 21 (with Constantine) + foundational Helena Augusta coinage; foundational Helen of Troy — foundational most beautiful woman in the world + foundational central to foundational Homer's Iliad + foundational launched Trojan War + foundational the face that launched a thousand ships. Foundational Greek feminine name reflecting Greek Orthodox + classical heritage.

Featured throughout Greek heritage.

Bright / shining torch (Greek). Foundational Greek-Orthodox feminine + foundational Greek form of Helen + foundational Greek helene torch + bright light + moon + foundational Saint Helena / Eleni of Constantinople c. 246-330 CE + foundational mother of Emperor Constantine the Great + foundational Augusta Imperatrix + foundational pilgrimage to Holy Land c. 326-328 CE + foundational tradition of discovering True Cross at Calvary + foundational founder of Church of the Holy Sepulchre + Church of the Nativity Bethlehem + Church on Mount of Olives + foundational Christian veneration + foundational feast day May 21 + foundational Helena Augusta coinage + foundational Helen of Troy + foundational most beautiful woman in the world + foundational Homer's Iliad + foundational launched Trojan War.

The name in its native script.

Ελένη
Transliteration
Eléni
Pronunciation
/ ɛˈlɛ.ni /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Eleni stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Eleni · last year
88 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Elenis before her.

Real people
Saint Helena of Constantinople
Mother of Constantine the Great + discovered True Cross + founded Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
c. 246 – 330 CE
In fiction
Helen of Troy
Most beautiful woman in the world + launched Trojan War + Homer's Iliad.
Iliad

Names connected to Eleni.

The number behind Eleni.

4

The Builder

Eleni reduces to four.

Why families chose this name.

"Greek bright torch. Five letters. Eleni."
Varvara · Mother of one · Athens