NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Elea

Feminine name of Greek origin meaning "shining light" or "sun ray".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Elea is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Elea popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2574, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 18 births.

This profile covers 120 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 119 living people in the UK are called Elea. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Elea ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 18 girls were registered as Elea.
  • About 119 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elea as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2574

2024

Births in 2024

10

Latest year

Peak year

2023

18 births

Estimated living

119

2026

Meaning

What does Elea mean?

The name Elea is of Greek origin and has its roots in antiquity. It is derived from the Greek word "elaia," which means "olive tree." The ancient city of Elea, located in southern Italy, was named after the olive groves that thrived in the region.

In Greek mythology, Elea was a nymph associated with the olive tree and its cultivation. She was believed to be the protector of olive groves and was revered by farmers and those who worked with olives. The name Elea was often given to children as a symbol of fertility, prosperity, and connection to nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elea can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides, who hailed from the city of Elea. He lived in the 5th century BCE and was a prominent figure in the Eleatic school of philosophy, which emphasized the importance of logic and reason.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Elea. One such figure was Elea Velicha, a Byzantine princess who lived in the 11th century. She was the daughter of Emperor Romanos III Argyros and played a significant role in the political intrigues of the Byzantine court.

In the field of literature, Elea Adler was a German writer and poet who lived from 1865 to 1925. She was known for her lyrical works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Another notable Elea was Elea Zambelis, a Greek artist who lived from 1919 to 2010. She was renowned for her vibrant abstract paintings and her contributions to the modern art movement in Greece.

Elea Dusán was a Spanish singer and songwriter who gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. She was celebrated for her unique vocal style and her ability to blend traditional Spanish music with contemporary influences.

In the world of sports, Elea Giuffre was an Italian fencer who competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She won a silver medal in the women's team foil event at the 2012 London Olympics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Elea over time

The chart below shows babies named Elea registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Elea, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Elea
0591418199920112024

Decades

Elea by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elea was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2738 60 5
2010s #4479 47 10
2000s #5132 10 3
1990s #3900 3 1

Related

Names similar to Elea

FAQ

Elea: questions and answers

How popular is the name Elea in the UK right now?

In 2024, Elea was ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.

When was Elea most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 18 babies registered as Elea in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Elea?

Feminine name of Greek origin meaning "shining light" or "sun ray".

How many people are called Elea in the UK?

A total of 120 babies have been registered as Elea across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.