Jelena
Girl name · #5013 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Jelena? In official American birth records, Jelena has been tracked continuously since 1959, giving it 66 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 26 baby girls were named Jelena, placing it at #5013 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3299, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 girls born in 2025 was named Jelena.
Babies named Jelena per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 66-year story
Jelena first appears in the Social Security records in 1959, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 68 girls were named Jelena — good for #2573 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jelena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jelena in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jelena is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jelena will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jelena is most common
State-level data for Jelena is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Jelena
Statistically, parents drawn to Jelena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kalena, Amena, Ellena, Jumana, and Meena.
KalenaAmenaEllenaJumanaMeenaMaddalenaAmeenaJaina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jelena | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4987 |
| 2024 | 32 | #4387 |
| 2023 | 39 | #3833 |
| 2022 | 37 | #3963 |
| 2021 | 29 | #4607 |
| 2020 | 38 | #3778 |
| 2019 | 39 | #3788 |
| 2018 | 52 | #3107 |
| 2017 | 68 | #2573 |
| 2016 | 58 | #2902 |
| 2015 | 49 | #3299 |
| 2014 | 58 | #2922 |
| 2013 | 47 | #3367 |
| 2012 | 51 | #3213 |
| 2011 | 58 | #2945 |
| 2010 | 57 | #2976 |
| 2009 | 46 | #3512 |
| 2008 | 57 | #3017 |
| 2007 | 51 | #3289 |
| 2006 | 49 | #3316 |
| 2005 | 44 | #3404 |
| 2004 | 48 | #3180 |
| 2003 | 45 | #3232 |
| 2002 | 40 | #3394 |
| 2001 | 21 | #5364 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jelena?
In official American birth records, the name Jelena first appeared in 1959 (over 66 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 66 years.
Is Jelena a popular girl name?
Jelena ranked #5013 among girls in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3299.
When was the name Jelena most popular?
Jelena peaked in 2017, when 68 American girls received the name (ranked #2573 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jelena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American girls was named Jelena. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.