This name is absolutely beautiful. Exotic, at least where I am. It starts with an uncommon letter. Yelena just has class, grace, and allure. I also really like Helena.
I find the name Yelena very beautiful and classy. It's one of my fave Russian girl names. ^_^ My other fave Russian girl names I can think of off the top of my head are Natasha, Sonya, Tanya and Zoya. :D.
― Anonymous User 6/11/2015
4
I used to strongly dislike the name because it's a way too common in Russia. But later I fell in love with a bearer and now I literally discovered its beauty. It sounds classy and elegant, but not in a snobbish way. Also, I think it's rather playful, just like its contracted form Lena.
She's a close friend of mine, but I tease her with the name Helena. She only hates it because it's the name of my favorite song. She tells me that Yelena is a very common name in Russia & Ukraine.