Elana
Girl name · #1984 in 2025 · Uniqueness 72/100
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, 1880–2025. 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?
Elana scores 72 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Elana is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elanas were TX (10), FL (7), GA (7), CA (6), IL (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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. It scores 72/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "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.