Elina
Elina is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “Bright, shining light”, pronounced eh-LEE-nah. It ranked #764 in the United States in 2025, given to 355 babies, and peaked at #764 in 2025. Common nicknames: Ellie, Lina, Elle.
How popular is Elina in the United States?
Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
What does Elina mean, and where does it come from?
Elina is the Finnish, Estonian and Latvian form of Helen, from the Greek helene, usually read as "torch" or "shining light." It is a top-tier name across the Baltic and Nordic countries and belongs there to singers, chess champions and cabinet ministers. In American records it appears from 1896 but only reached the top thousand in 2018, arriving on the same current as Elena, Alina and Selina. Three syllables, an even stress, and no consonant that any language has trouble with — it is about as portable as a name gets.
How is Elina used around the world?
Elina is used in 3 languages worldwide, with 12+ international variants.
TypeFemale given name
Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.
What are the nicknames for Elina?
Famous People Named Elina
- Elīna Garanča — Latvian mezzo-soprano
- Elina Danielian — Armenian chess grandmaster
- Elina Valtonen — Finnish politician and foreign minister
Similar Names to Elina
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Sibling Name Ideas for Elina
Looking for names that pair well with Elina? Here are some sibling name suggestions that share a similar style and feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Elina mean?
Elina is a girl name of Greek origin meaning "Bright, shining light." Elina is the Finnish, Estonian and Latvian form of Helen, from the Greek helene, usually read as "torch" or "shining light." It is a top-tier name across the Baltic and Nordic countries and belongs there to singers, chess champions and cabinet ministers.
How do you pronounce Elina?
Elina is pronounced eh-LEE-nah. Common variations include Elena, Alina, Elīna.
Is Elina a girl name?
Yes, Elina is traditionally a girl name. Popular nicknames include Ellie, Lina, Elle.