Elna

Elna represents a short form of the name Elina, the Scandinavian variant of Helena, which goes back to the Latin Helena, which in turn has its roots in the ancient Greek name Helene. The exact meaning of the name Helene is not clearly defined; however, various interpretations such as 'The Shining' are accepted, derived from the ancient Greek word 'helene', which means 'torch' or 'light'.

What does the name Elna mean?

Elna is a short form of Elina and originates from the Scandinavian variant Helena, which in turn goes back to the Latin Helene, which has its roots in the ancient Greek Helene. The meaning of the original name Helene is not definitively clarified; however, there are several possible meanings: 'The Shining' (from ancient Greek 'helene' meaning 'torch, light'), 'The Moon' (derived from ancient Greek 'selene' meaning 'moon'), with Selene also being the moon goddess in Greek mythology, and 'The Radiant' (from ancient Greek 'helios' meaning 'sun, sun rays'), with Helios being the sun god of Greek mythology. The first name Elna is mainly used in Scandinavian countries, especially in Denmark and Sweden, but can also occasionally be found in German and English-speaking regions. Notable bearers of the name include American writer and comedian Elna Baker and German author and presenter Elna-Margret zu Bentheim.

Where does the name Elna come from?

The origin of the name Elna is ancient Greek and includes meanings such as 'the Shining' or 'the Radiant' among others. The ancient Greek components are 'helene' (the torch, the light), 'selene' (the moon), and 'helios' (the sun, the sun rays). The name is widespread in various languages, including Danish, Nordic, Norwegian, Swedish, and generally Scandinavian.

How do you pronounce Elna?

The pronunciation of Elna is clear and two-syllable. In the German language, it is usually pronounced as 'El-na' [ˈɛlna]. The name begins with a bright e-sound that directly transitions into the consonant cluster -ln-. This slight compression in the middle gives the name structure and substance. The open sound at the end with -a provides warmth and softness in the conclusion. Elna thus appears simple yet characterful – calm, down-to-earth, and harmonious in sound.

When is the name day of Elna?

The name day of Elna is celebrated on the following days: April 26, May 21, August 18, October 29, and November 15.

Popularity

In Germany, Elna is among the more common first names. The name currently ranks 3,210th on the list of the most popular female baby names and reached its best ranking in 2021 at 2,400th place. In the last ten years, Elna has been given as a first name about 50 times, which places it at 3,707th during this period. Between 2010 and 2024, the name ranks 4,199th.

Nicknames & pet names

Elly / Elni

Famous people

• Elna Baker (American writer)
• Elna Henrikson (Swedish figure skater)
• Elna Jorgen-Jensen (Danish ballet dancer)
• Elna Kimmestad (Norwegian actress)
• Elna Margret zu Bentheim und Steinfurt (hereditary princess, fashion expert)
• Elna Reinach (South African tennis player)