Daphne vs Elena
Daphne and Elenacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Daphne was ranked #150 and Elena #146 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Daphne was ranked #476 and Elena #171 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Daphne was ranked #413 and Elena #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Daphne and Elena over time
Daphne and Elena appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Elena held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Daphne in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daphne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elena in 29.
Highest recorded here: Daphne #150 in 2024, Elena #132 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daphne #150, Elena #146.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1967–2025
Daphne held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Elena in 11.
Highest recorded here: Daphne #265 in 1969, Elena #114 in 2024.
The order changed in 1986: Elena moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #352 and #542; by 1986 that had become #458 and #356.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daphne #413, Elena #189.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Daphne | Elena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Often glossed as 'torch' or 'bright, shining light', though this is genuinely contested. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛlənə/ (also /eɪˈleɪnə/) |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Helena, Elena, Lena |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | United Kingdom #42 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elena has a recorded origin (Greek); Daphne does not have one recorded yet.
- Daphne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Elena.
- A meaning is recorded for Elena; Daphne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Daphne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #150 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Elena
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #370 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2017–2025
Highest recorded position: #56 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2019 (recorded 2017–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls