| Meaning | bright, shining |
| Origin | Greek, Russian, Slavic |
| Gender | Girl |
| Popularity | Moderate |
| Length | 6 |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Syllabification | Je-le-na |
Exotic and musical, Jelena brings Slavic sophistication to the naming landscape with its distinctive pronunciation and elegant spelling. The soft "J" sound—pronounced like a "Y"—gives it an immediately international flavor that sets it apart from typical English names. This name carries a certain mystique, suggesting European heritage and cultural depth. Jelena flows beautifully when spoken, its three syllables creating a melodic rhythm that's both strong and feminine. Parents choosing this name often have Eastern European connections or simply appreciate names that sound genuinely international rather than invented. The name works across cultures better than many might expect, as its phonetic appeal transcends specific linguistic boundaries. Jelena offers no obvious nicknames, which many parents view as a positive—it stands complete and beautiful without modification. The name suggests someone sophisticated, worldly, and comfortable navigating different cultural contexts. It's memorable without being difficult, exotic without being impossible to pronounce once people hear it correctly. Jelena ages gracefully, suiting a child, teenager, and professional adult with equal elegance. For families seeking a name that honors heritage while sounding fresh and distinctive in diverse settings, Jelena offers the perfect balance of tradition and uniqueness.
| Jel |
| Jena |
| Lena |
| Ellen |
| Jelena Janković | Serbian tennis player |
| Jelena Dokić | Australian-Serbian former tennis player |
| Jelena Noura "Gigi" Hadid | American fashion model |
| Jelena Rozga | Croatian pop singer |
| Jelena Abbou | Serbian-American fitness model and bodybuilder |
| Jelena Karleuša | Serbian pop singer and TV personality |
| Jelena Jensen | American adult film actress and model |
| Jelena Dokic | Serbian-Australian former tennis player |
| Jelena Isinbaeva | Russian pole vaulter and two-time Olympic gold medalist |
| Jelena Mrdjenovich | Canadian professional boxer |
| Jelena Dementyeva | Russian former professional tennis player |
| Jelena Grushina | Russian ice dancer and Olympic bronze medalist |
| Jelena Glebova | Estonian figure skater |
| Jelena Jovičić | Serbian basketball player |
| Jelena Šubarić | Croatian handball player |
| Jelena Veljača | Croatian actress, screenwriter, and director |
| Jelena Lengold | Serbian writer and poet |
| Jelena Petrović | Serbian chess grandmaster |
| Jelena Tomašević | Serbian actress and singer |
| Jelena Gregorović | Character in the novel "The Bridge on the Drina" by Ivo Andrić |
| Jelena Petrović | A character in the Serbian TV series "Folk" |
| Jelena Kovač | Character in the Croatian TV series "Bitange i princeze" |
| Jelena Vukmirica | Character in the Serbian film "Miris kiše na Balkanu" |
| Jelena "Yelena" Zhivago | Character in the novel "Doctor Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak |
| Jelena Tereza, Princess of Montenegro | Historical character in Balkan history |
| Jelena Alilović | Character in the Croatian TV series "Crno-bijeli svijet" |
| Jelena Stupljanin | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Grubač | Character in the Serbian TV series "Selo gori, a baba se češlja" |
| Jelena Gavrilović | Character in the Serbian film "A Serbian Film" |
| Jelena Marinković | Character in the Serbian TV series "Selo gori, a baba se češlja" |
| Jelena Jovanović | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Ninković | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Živković | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Đuričanin | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Tomašević | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Mladenović | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Lončar | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Tasić | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |
| Jelena Radivojević | Character in the Serbian TV series "Porodično blago" |