Elena is the Italian, Spanish, Russian, and Romanian form of Helen — from the Greek Helénē (Ἑλένη), meaning "sun's ray" or "bright." The same root gives Eleanor, Ellen, Helene, and Yelena.
Elena is enormously popular across Italy, Spain, Russia, and Latin America. In the U.S. it sits at #97 and has been climbing fast in the 2020s. Queen Elena of Italy (1873-1952), Saint Elena (mother of Constantine), and the actress Elena Ferrante's pseudonym have kept it in cultural memory.
Elena reduces to nine — the number of bright generosity.