Olena is a beautiful and unique female given name of Ukrainian origin. It is derived from the older Slavic name Oleksandra, which means "defender" or "protector". This name has been popular in Ukraine for centuries and has been used by many notable figures throughout history.
The name Olena has a rich historical significance in Ukraine. Many prominent women have borne this name, including Olena Kuliš, a famous Ukrainian poet and writer who lived in the 19th century, and Olena Teliha, a talented young poet and translator who was executed by the Nazis during World War II for her patriotic activities.
Despite its Ukrainian origins, Olena has been adopted by other cultures as well. Today, it can be found among people of various nationalities around the world, including those in Russia, Poland, and even some English-speaking countries.
In terms of pronunciation, Olena is typically pronounced /oh-LEH-nuh/. It consists of three syllables: oh, LEH, nuh. The stress falls on the second syllable (LEH).
Overall, Olena is a lovely name with a strong historical background and meaningful significance. Whether you are looking for a unique name for your daughter or simply appreciate beautiful names from different cultures, Olena is certainly worth considering.
The name Olena has had a varying level of popularity in the United States over the past century and a half. Between 1882 and 2023, there have been a total of 863 babies named Olena born in the US.
Looking at the annual statistics, we can see that the name's popularity has fluctuated significantly. The earliest recorded year with more than five births was 1897, with six births. From then until 1920, there were fewer than ten births per year for this name.
However, in the following decade (1921-1930), we see a steady increase in popularity, reaching a peak of 19 births in 1920 and 18 births in 1927. This indicates that during this period, Olena was becoming more commonly chosen as a baby girl's name.
After the 1930s, there seems to be a decline in popularity for the name Olena. There were fewer than ten births per year from 1935 until 1972, with some years having as few as five births.
From the mid-1970s onward, we start to see a slow but steady increase in the number of babies named Olena again. The years 1977 and 1978 both had seven births each, followed by another peak of ten births in 2006.
In recent years, the name Olena has seen a significant resurgence in popularity. From 2011 onwards, there have been more than ten births per year, with peaks of 22 births in 2015 and an impressive 32 births in 2022. This indicates that Olena is currently a popular choice among parents in the United States.
Overall, while the name Olena may not have been consistently popular throughout history, it has enjoyed periods of relative popularity, particularly during the early-to-mid 20th century and more recently in the late 2010s and early 2020s.