Elina

Meaning of Elina

Elina is a sun-kissed spin on the ancient Greek Helen—“torch,” “shining light”—and she wears that meaning like a crown of warm glow. In Nordic tales she’s pronounced eh-LEE-nah, in English ee-LEE-nuh, but no matter the accent she flutters off the lips like a firefly at dusk. Legend ties her to Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships, while modern ears may picture a flamenco dancer swishing crimson skirts across a moonlit plaza. In the United States, Elina has been pacing herself like a marathoner: never too common, yet quietly edging upward—about 350 little Elinas joined the playground in 2024, landing her around No. 600. That sweet spot lets parents snag a name that feels both familiar and delightfully off-beat. With its built-in nickname “Lina,” its international passport, and a meaning that literally lights up the room, Elina is the kind of choice that turns an ordinary birth certificate into a sparkler.