Zelena likely relates to Slavic words for 'green' and may also echo Selene, the Greek moon goddess.
Zelena is a Slavic word-name meaning simply "green" — from the adjective zelena (green, verdant) found across Czech, Slovak, Polish, Slovenian, Croatian, and other Slavic languages, all descending from the Proto-Slavic *zelenъ. Green in Slavic folk tradition carried associations with life, spring, renewal, and the forest — it was the color of the natural world waking from winter, of healing herbs, and of the fertile earth. A child named Zelena was thus named for growth and vitality itself.
The name also intersects with the Greek name Selena (moon goddess, from selene), and in some Eastern European contexts the two traditions have blended. Zelena gained unexpected pop-culture resonance through the character Zelena — the Wicked Witch of the West — in the television series Once Upon a Time, which ran from 2012 to 2018, giving the name a fairy-tale mystique for a new generation of viewers. The character's complexity made the name memorable rather than simply villainous.
Zelena is rare in English-speaking countries, making it a striking choice that nonetheless feels immediately accessible. It belongs to the family of nature names that have flourished in the 21st century — names like Willow, Sage, and Aurora — but with a distinctly Slavic character that sets it apart. The name feels both ancient and fresh, earthy and elegant.