Olena

♀ Girl

Pronounced oh-LEH-nah /oʊˈlɛ.nɑ/Medium

Meaning: Ukrainian form of Helen — Greek, 'light, torch; bright'High

In 30 seconds: Light, in soft Ukrainian: Olena is the national Helen — 'torch, bright'. Elegant, melodic, and luminous (Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska).

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Origin HighGreek, Ukrainian

MeaningUkrainian form of Helen — Greek, 'light, torch; bright'

U.S. rank (2025)#5866 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births21 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 919

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Olena is the Ukrainian form of Helen — from Greek, 'light, torch; bright'. A graceful, melodic national favorite, it carries the radiance of its ancient root.

In the U.S. it appears in Ukrainian families. Rare, light at the root, and luminous.

Did you know? Olena is the Ukrainian form of Helen, from Greek for 'light, torch' — borne by Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska; it's graceful and luminous.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Olena — etymology

Variations

HelenaOlyaLena

Nicknames

LenaOlya

Famous Bearers

★Olena Zelenska (1978-)
Ukrainian First Lady, wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky, known for humanitarian advocacy
★Olena Bondarenko
Ukrainian politician and member of the Verkhovna Rada

If you like Olena…

Helena— the Greek/English form

Elena— a fellow soft -lena name

Alena— a companion Slavic name

Milena— another -lena Slavic favorite

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Olena mean?

Olena is the Ukrainian Helen, Greek for 'light, torch'.

How do you pronounce Olena?

It's said oh-LEH-nah /oʊˈlɛ.nɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Olena a boy or girl name?

Olena is a girl's name.

How popular is Olena?

Olena is a rare name in the U.S.