Elin vs Lena
Elin and Lenacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Elin was ranked #430 and Lena #137 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Elin was ranked #263 and Lena #294 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elin was ranked #885 and Lena #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elin was ranked #722 and Lena #283 among girls in England and Wales.
Elin and Lena over time
Elin and Lena appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Lena held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elin in 1.
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.
Lena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Elin in 1. 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
Elin and Lena changed places 14 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #263 and #294.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Lena rose about as far as Elin fell — from #446 and #823 in 1996 to #722 and #283 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Elin and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #263 and #294.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Elin held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Lena in 26.
Highest recorded here: Elin #4 in 1974, Lena #20 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elin #263, Lena #294.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elin held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lena in 18.
Highest recorded here: Elin #349 in 1999, Lena #128 in 2013.
The order changed in 2008: Lena moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #433 and #544; by 2008 that had become #487 and #341.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elin #722, Lena #283.
Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2010–2025
Elin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lena in 8.
Highest recorded here: Elin #524 in 2017, Lena #71 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elin #885, Lena #266.
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 | Elin | Lena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.na/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #263 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lena has a recorded origin (Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions); Elin does not have one recorded yet.
- Elin and Lena both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Elin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Elin
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #41 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 1974 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #263 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Lena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #346 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1969 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls