Elena vs Simona
Elena and Simonacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Elena was ranked #107 and Simona #513 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Elena was ranked #128 and Simona #651 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Elena was ranked #130 and Simona #434 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elena was ranked #146 and Simona #1672 among girls in England and Wales.
Elena and Simona over time
Elena and Simona appear together in 3 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Elena held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Simona in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Simona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Elena in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elena and Simona changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2024, ending at #107 and #513.
- Longest-running competitions
Elena and Simona were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1969 to 2024, ending at #107 and #513.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elena #132 in 2018, Simona #938 in 2016.
List by list
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1969–2024
Elena held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Simona in 2.
Highest recorded here: Elena #84 in 2017, Simona #191 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elena #107, Simona #513.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Elena held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Simona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elena #132 in 2018, Simona #938 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elena #146, Simona #1672.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2002–2017
Elena held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Simona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elena #117 in 2014, Simona #536 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Elena #128, Simona #651.
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 | Elena | Simona |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Often glossed as 'torch' or 'bright, shining light', though this is genuinely contested. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛlənə/ (also /eɪˈleɪnə/) | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Helena, Elena, Lena | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #42 (2025) | Norway · Girls #513 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elena has a recorded origin (Greek); Simona does not have one recorded yet.
- Elena and Simona both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elena; Simona doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
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
Simona
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #522 among girls in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2024
Highest recorded position: #191 among girls in Norway, in 1987 (recorded 1969–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1672 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls