Elana
Girl name · #1984 in 2025 · Very rare
Elana is currently the #1984 girl name in the United States — 97 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1526, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,557 girls born in 2025 was named Elana.
Babies named Elana per year. Source: SSA.
The 91-year story
Elana first appears in the Social Security records in 1934, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 219 girls were named Elana — good for #1130 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 Elana against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elana in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elana is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Elana will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Elana is most common
State-level data for Elana 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 Elana
Statistically, parents drawn to Elana tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Leana, Ayana, Johana, Joana, and Ilana.
LeanaAyanaJohanaJoanaIlanaOrianaAllanaSilvana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elana | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 97 | #1981 |
| 2024 | 107 | #1870 |
| 2023 | 96 | #2033 |
| 2022 | 114 | #1793 |
| 2021 | 123 | #1680 |
| 2020 | 108 | #1818 |
| 2019 | 123 | #1700 |
| 2018 | 135 | #1590 |
| 2017 | 129 | #1665 |
| 2016 | 149 | #1516 |
| 2015 | 147 | #1526 |
| 2014 | 172 | #1356 |
| 2013 | 136 | #1576 |
| 2012 | 181 | #1302 |
| 2011 | 135 | #1598 |
| 2010 | 164 | #1400 |
| 2009 | 134 | #1660 |
| 2008 | 163 | #1445 |
| 2007 | 183 | #1326 |
| 2006 | 219 | #1130 |
| 2005 | 179 | #1259 |
| 2004 | 214 | #1076 |
| 2003 | 186 | #1160 |
| 2002 | 151 | #1297 |
| 2001 | 172 | #1187 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elana a popular girl name?
Elana ranked #1984 among girls in 2025 with 97 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1526.
When was the name Elana most popular?
Elana peaked in 2006, when 219 American girls received the name (ranked #1130 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elana?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,557 newborn American girls was named Elana. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.