UK girl's name
Elleni
A feminine given name of Amharic origin meaning "you are mine".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Elleni is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Elleni popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Elleni. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Elleni ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 girls were registered as Elleni.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elleni as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Elleni mean?
The name Elleni is of Greek origin, derived from the ancient Greek word "Helene," meaning "bright one" or "shining light." It is the feminine form of the male name Elenos, which has its roots in the Greek mythology of Helen of Troy, the famously beautiful woman whose abduction sparked the Trojan War.
In ancient Greek literature, the name Helene appears in various forms, including Elleni, reflecting the linguistic evolution of the language over time. The earliest recorded use of the name Elleni can be traced back to the Byzantine era, where it was commonly used among the Greek-speaking population of the Eastern Roman Empire.
One of the notable historical figures bearing the name Elleni was Elleni Glykatzi-Arveleri (1876-1928), a pioneering Greek feminist and educator who played a crucial role in advocating for women's rights and access to education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Another prominent Elleni was Elleni Tompro (1928-2021), a celebrated Greek actress who graced the stage and screen for over six decades, becoming a cultural icon and recipient of numerous accolades for her contributions to the performing arts.
In the realm of religion, the name Elleni has been associated with several notable figures, including Saint Elleni of Constantinople (c. 249-270), a Christian martyr who faced persecution during the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelian.
Elleni Kazan (1909-2003), the wife of the renowned American filmmaker Elia Kazan, was another notable bearer of the name. Born in Greece, she played a significant role in her husband's artistic and professional life, often serving as a collaborator and source of inspiration.
In the field of literature, the name Elleni has been immortalized by the acclaimed Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis in his novel "Elleni, or Nobody's Child," published in 1961. The book's protagonist, Elleni, symbolizes the resilience and strength of the Greek people during times of hardship and struggle.
These examples showcase the rich history and cultural significance of the name Elleni, which has been borne by influential figures across various domains, from activism and the arts to religious and literary spheres.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Elleni over time
The chart below shows babies named Elleni registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Elleni, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elleni by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elleni 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4267 | 10 | 3 |
| 1990s | #3510 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Elleni
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Elleni: questions and answers
How popular is the name Elleni in the UK right now?
In 2009, Elleni was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Elleni most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Elleni in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Elleni?
A feminine given name of Amharic origin meaning "you are mine".
How many people are called Elleni in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Elleni across the 5 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.