Elana
Girl name · #1984 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Elana? In official American birth records, Elana has been tracked continuously since 1934, giving it 91 years of documented American history.
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: Official national birth records.
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
How old is the name Elana?
In official American birth records, the name Elana first appeared in 1934 (over 91 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 91 years.
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: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.