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María Elena is a compound Spanish given name combining María, the Spanish form of the Latin Maria, itself from the Hebrew Miriam, a name of debated meaning often interpreted as "beloved," "bitter," or "drop of the sea," and Elena, the Spanish and Italian form of the Greek Helene, likely derived from the Greek word for torch or light, though some link it to Hellas, the ancient name for Greece. María has been one of the most widely used names in the Spanish-speaking world, venerated as the name of the Virgin Mary, while Elena traces its ancient roots to Helen of Troy, the celebrated figure of Greek mythology. The combined form María Elena became popular throughout Latin America and Spain as a double name honoring both religious and classical traditions. Related forms include Maria Elena in Italian, Mary Ellen in English, and the standalone variants María and Elena.