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Eleni

Girl name · 17 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Eleni: 17 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2017.

The name Eleni is the Greek form of Helen, tracing back to the ancient Greek *Helénē*, whose meaning is often linked to *hēlios* (“sun”) or a pre-Greek word for “light” or “torch.” In modern times, it was carried by Princess Eleni of Greece and Denmark (daughter of King George I), and is well known through the acclaimed Greek composer Eleni Karaindrou, who has scored many films. While no major place bears the name directly, the etymological root connects to St Helena and the island of Saint Helena. For Scottish parents, Eleni offers a radiant, melodic alternative to the more common Helen, and it has seen steady but modest use in Scotland thanks to the country’s long-standing links with the Greek community, often spelled with an accent on the final ‘i.’