Yelena

Yelena is the Russian and East Slavic form of Helen, ultimately derived from the ancient Greek name Helene, whose root is debated but most commonly connected to the Greek word for torch or light, or alternatively linked to Selene, a name associated with the moon. The name was widely used in Russia partly through the veneration of Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, who is credited with discovering the True Cross. Yelena has been borne by numerous figures in Russian history and literature, including characters in works by Turgenev and Chekhov. Related forms include Elena, the common pan-European variant, as well as Alena, Olena, and Jelena found across Slavic and other European traditions.