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María Elena is a compound Spanish given name combining María, the Latin and Spanish form of the Hebrew name Miryam (of debated meaning, with proposed roots including "beloved," "drop of the sea," or "bitter"), and Elena, the Spanish and Italian form of the Greek Helene, likely derived from a root meaning "torch" or "bright light" and associated with Helen of Troy. As a double name it has been widely used across the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in Latin America, where it carries strong Catholic Marian devotion alongside the classical heritage of Helene. The pairing became especially popular in the twentieth century, borne by notable figures such as the Chilean poet María Elena Walsh. Variant forms include Maria Elena in Italian and Portuguese contexts, and the constituent names appear separately as María and Elena.