Elena Gilbert

**Notice:** This **article** uses content directly taken from the Elena Gilbert **article** at the Vampire Diaries Wiki, and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.

## Biographical Information

### Turned

* By Damon Salvatore's blood on November 6, 2010  (administered by Meredith Fell)
* By Alexandria Gilbert's blood and Restore and Reversal Spell in 2030

### Occupation

* Member of the Crescent Wolf Pack (Currently)
* Member of the Divine Coven (Currently)
* Member of the Trinity Coven (Currently)
* High School Student (Graduated/Formerly)
* Cheerleader for the Timberwolves (Formerly)
* The Cure (Formerly)
* College Student (Formerly)
* Hospital Volunteer (Formerly)
* Doctor (Currently)

### Title(s)

* Gabriella Labonair (birthname)
* Pouty, Buffy, Warrior Princess, Scaredy Cat, Judge, Stone Cold Bitch, Baby, Sunshine, Honey, Robert Frost (all by Damon)
* Love, My Lovelies (by Klaus to Elena, Alex, Jules, and Jenna)
* Dull As Dishwater Doppelganger (by Katherine)
* Elena Williams (an alternate identity)
* Darling, Former Blood Bag (all by Kol)
* Human Blood Bag, Stupid Human Girl (both by Stefan)
* Doppelgänger Bitch, Doppelgänger Wench (all by Rebekah)
* Bloody Cow, Lena, Twin (by Alex)

### Species

* Human (Formerly)
* Vampire  (Niklaus' Bloodline) (Cured/Formerly)
* Augustine Vampire (Cured/Formerly)
* Ghost (Briefly/Formerly)
* Tribrid/Doppelgänger (Vampire-Werewolf-Witch) (Alex's Bloodline) (Currently)

## Family Information

### Family Members

* Amara † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Inadu's Mother † (Distant Maternal Relative)
* The Hollow † (Distant Maternal Relative)
* Freya Mikaelson (Sister-In-Law)
* Finn Mikaelson † (Brother-In-Law)
* Elijah Mikaelson (Brother-In-Law)
* Niklaus Mikaelson (Brother-In-Law)
* Kol Mikaelson (Brother-In-Law)
* Tatia † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Rebekah Mikaelson (Sister-In-Law)
* Henrik Mikaelson † (Brother-In-Law)
* Tatia's Child † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Mr. Petrov † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Mrs. Petrova † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Katerina Petrova (Maternal Ancestor/Sister-in-Law)
* Katerina's Unnamed Sister † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Nadia Petrova † (Maternal Ancestor)
* Marcel Gerard (Brother-In-Law)
* Giuseppe Salvatore † (Father-In-Law)
* Lillian Salvatore † (Mother-In-Law)
* Damon Salvatore (Husband)
* Stefan Salvatore † (Brother-In-Law)
* Johnathan Gilbert † (Paternal Ancestor)
* Christopher Gilbert † (Paternal Ancestor)
* Samantha Gilbert † (Paternal Ancestor)
* Mary † (Adoptive Maternal Ancestor)
* Beth † (Adoptive Maternal Great-Grandmother)
* Carson Flemming (Biological Maternal Grandfather)
* Maria Flemming (Biological Maternal Grandmother)
* Grayson Gilbert † (Adoptive Father/Paternal Aunt)
* Logan Labonair † (Maternal Uncle)
* Lilith Labonair † (Maternal Aunt)
* Miranda Sommers-Gilbert (Adoptive Mother/Paternal Aunt)
* Isobel Flemming † (Biological Mother)
* John Gilbert † (Biological Father/Adoptive Uncle)
* Alaric Saltzman (Former Legal Guardian/Step-Father)
* Jenna Sommers † (Adoptive Aunt)
* Keelin Mikaelson (Sister-in-Law)
* Arielle Labonair (Maternal Older Sister)
* Hayley Marshall (Maternal Cousin/Honorary Sister)
* Alexandria Gilbert (Younger Twin Sister)
* Davina Claire (Sister-in-Law)
* Jeremy Gilbert (Adoptive Brother/Paternal Cousin)
* Valentina Gilbert (Paternal Cousin-in-Law/Adoptive Sister-in-Law)
* Hope Mikaelson (Niece)
* Lizzie Saltzman (Step-Sister/Honorary Niece)
* Josie Saltzman (Step-Sister/Honorary Niece)
* Jax Salvatore (Nephew)
* Nina Salvatore (Niece)
* Lily Salvatore (Niece)
* Lia Bennett (Honorary Niece)
* Adella Mikaelson (Adoptive Niece)
* Grayson Salvatore (Son)
* Sarah Salvatore (Daughter)
* Parker St. John-Bennett (Honorary Niece)
* Sebastián Gilbert (Nephew)
* Victoria Mikaelson (Niece)
* Miranda Mikaelson (Niece)
* Jenna Mikaelson (Niece)
* Camila Gilbert (Niece)
* Stefanie Salvatore (Daughter)
* Finn Mikaelson (Nephew)
* Mason Mikaelson (Nephew)
* Ace Mikaelson (Nephew)
* Bella Mikaelson (Niece)
* Issac Gilbert (Nephew)
* Nik Mikaelson (Nephew)

## Supernatural Information

### Significant Spells

* Telekinesis (various)
* Pyrokinesis (various)

### Significant Kills

* Alaric Saltzman (5th time/Revived by Gilbert Ring and 8th time, indirectly)
* Connor Jordan
* Jeremy Gilbert (4th time/Revived by Gilbert Ring)
* Jolene
* Jesse (as a vampire)
* Katherine Pierce (Indirectly/Post-Cure Effects/2nd Time as a Traveler Witch)
* The Travelers (including Markos, with Damon)

### Cause Of Death

* Drained of Blood (1st time/as a human)
* Drowned (2nd time/as a human)
* Explosion (3rd time/as a vampire)

### Killed By

* Niklaus Mikaelson (1st time/as a human)
* Rebekah Mikaelson (2nd time/as a human)
* Damon Salvatore (with her consent) (3rd time/as a vampire)

## Physical Appearance

### Height

* 5'6" (Feet)
* 1.68 (Meters)

## Appearance

### Played By

* Nina Dobrev
* Kayla Madison (Young)

**Dr. Elena Rose Salvatore** (née **Gilbert**) (born **Gabriella Labonair**) was the former main female protagonist of *The Vampire Diaries*. She was a guest character on *The Originals*and is a recurring guest character on *Legacies*.

At the beginning of *The Vampire Diaries* series, Elena and her sister, Alexandria Gilbert appears to be regular human girls, but is then revealed to be Petrova doppelgängers. In the Season Three finale, she became a vampire despite never wanting to be one. In *I'd Leave My Happy Home For You*, she takes the cure to become human again but was turned into a tribrid by Alex's blood and the restore and reversal spell.

Elena had been struggling to live a normal life ever since her adoptive parents, Mirandaand Grayson Gilbert, died in a car accident when she was 16 years old. Her life also changed drastically as she and her friends are caught up in the supernatural world that surrounds them and are forced to face powerful supernatural enemies.

Elena was described as a star student. She was popular, sporty, smart, compassionate, empathetic, caring and friendly. She could be very vulnerable and a damsel in distress.

Elena is best friends with her twin sister Alex Gilbert; Bonnie Bennett; Caroline Forbes; Matt Donovan; and her husband, Damon Salvatore. She was also close friends with her late brother-in-law, Stefan Salvatore. Her actions and beliefs throughout the series have been most influenced by her relationships with the Salvatore brothers, as well as by her antagonistic relationship with Katerina Petrova.

In Season One, Elena was still coping with her parents' death along side her sister, Alex. Not long after school has started again her sister tells her that Stefan and Damon Salvatore are, in fact, vampires. She also becomes aware of the existence of Katherine Pierce, the woman who turned the Salvatore brothers into vampires in 1864, and to whom Elena and Alex bears a striking physical resemblance. In the process, Elena discovers a shocking truth - she and Alex were adopted, and their real parents are John Gilbert, their "uncle", and Isobel Flemming, Alaric's wife.

In Season Two, both Elena and Alex learns that they're Katherine's doppelgängers, which explains their identical appearance. Because of this, an Original Vampire, Klaus, wants to use her and Alex in a sacrifice to break an ancient curse. Despite Elena's and her friends' best efforts, the sacrifice takes place. Her biological father, John, sacrificed his own life to keep Elena alive and human. However, Klaus killed Elena's aunt Jenna, after turning her into a vampire, and killing Alex turning her into a Tribrid.

After Jeremy's death in Season Four, at Damon's command to ease her pain, she turned off her humanity along with her sister so she wouldn't have to feel all the guilt. Vampires in rare cases form a sire bond to the one who turned them, based on how strong their human feelings were before transitioning. After a brief time, she and Alex were finally able to regain their humanity after a surprising plan was carried out by Damon and Matt.

During the events of Season Five, Elena's body was also possessed by Katherine, who was attempting to escape her fate caused by the effects of the cure. It took a while for Elena's friends to discover Katherine's deceit and when she died, she left a 'little present' in the form of infecting Elena's body with a deadly virus, but this was later cured. She and Damon got back together near the end of the season, but it was short-lived. After Stefan's shocking death, in order to bring him and others back from The Other Side, Damon, Elena and Caroline devised a plan, involving Olivia Parker performing a spell that the Travelers had used to bring back their leader, Markos. However, the spell was interrupted before Damon could pass through the Anchor, Bonnie, and as the Other Side began to disintegrate, Elena and her friends were left heartbroken by their impending deaths.

Elena also visited New Orleans with her friends to make sure that Alex was alright since Stefan and his best friend, Lexi saw her on The Other Side. Also at this point Elena found out she has an older half sister named Arielle Labonair.

During Season Six, Elena decided to cope with Damon's death by using drugs to hallucinate him. However, these drugs enhanced her blood thirst and she decided to resort to a different mechanism which involves erasing her memories of loving Damon.

After the memories of their relationship were erased, she began to see him as the selfish and arrogant person who killed her brother. Soon after, Damon came back to life and she decided to give him a chance. She began to fall for him again after seeing his acts of attempting to rescue Bonnie from the prison world, and they start their relationship anew. She later learns of the cure that Bonnie brought back from the prison world and takes it, in the hopes of having a family again and a future with Damon to look forward too.

Things go well until Kai ruins Jo and Alaric's wedding and casts a sleeping spell on Elena, linking her life to Bonnie's. She makes a sacrifice to let Bonnie live out her life until it is her turn. She bids goodbye to her friends and loved ones before parting ways but knows that she will see Damon, Stefan, Alex, Caroline, and the others again one day.

In Season Five of *The Originals*, Elena shows up to the Salvatore Boarding School having hearing about the death of her twin sister. She goes to New Orleans with her husband Damon and her brother Jeremy with his wife Valentina. She says her goodbyes with her nieces; Hope Mikaelson, Nikolina Gilbert-Salvatore, Lillian Gilbert-Salvatore and her nephew, Jaxon Salvatore.

For most of her life, Elena lived at 2104 Maple Street, in the Gilbert family house with her family. During the fourth season, she briefly moved to the Salvatore Boarding House, when her brother, Jeremy, became a member of The Five and developed an uncontrollable urge to kill vampires, making it impossible for them to live together. Later in the season, after Jeremy’s death, Elena lets Alex burn down the Gilbert house. After that, she lived in the Salvatore Boarding House for several months, before moving to the Whitmore College dorm.

She attendedMystic Falls High School from Seasons One to Four, where she was a cheerleader, honor student, and one of the most popular girls in the school alongside her sister.

In Season Five, she began attending Whitmore College and in Season Six, she majored in pre-med, wanting to become a doctor.

As Elena was placed in a sleep by Kai Parker, she would have remained that way until Bonnie died. However, Bonnie later found a way to wake her, and she reunited with her friends. Elena said her goodbye to a dying Stefan, before living a long and happy life with Damon, whom she married. Elena achieved her dream of being a doctor.

Elena is the mother to Grayson, Sarah, and Stefanie Salvatore. She is the aunt is Hope Mikaelson, Jaxon Salvatore, Nikolina Gilbert-Salvatore, Lillian Gilbert-Salvatore, Miranda Mikaelson, Jenna Mikaelson, Sebastián Gilbert, Camila Gilbert, Issac Gilbert, and Nik Mikaelson. She is the adoptive aunt to Adella Gilbert-Mikaelson.

**Elena** is a member of the **Petrova Family**, and a member of the **Gilbert Family**, **Labonair Family**, by marriage the **Salvatore Family**. She also has ties to the **Mikaelson Family**. She is by birthright, a member of the **Crescent Wolf Pack** and **Divine Coven** and **Trinity Coven.**

## Physical Appearance

Physically, Elena is a very beautiful and attractive young woman with an oval face, light olive complexion, almond-shaped brown eyes which are sometimes described as doe-eyes, and long dark brown hair.

As a Labonair, she has the Crescent birthmark on her right shoulder, just like her distant relatives, Eve, Lana, and the Hollow.

Elena has an uncanny physical resemblance to her ancestor and doppelgänger, Katerina Petrova, who often poses as Elena in order to trick others.

However, even though Elena and Katherine look exactly the same in terms of physical appearance, there are some slight differences between the two in terms of fashion and style, and especially personality. In terms of fashion sense, while Elena's human, she's much more casual, sporty and "girl next door" and doesn't wear a lot of make up or favor fashionable clothing unless attending a formal event. Elena favors wearing dark blue jeans with t-shirts of various colors and Converse sneakers. Elena primarily wears fashionable clothing or dresses up for special occasions or formal events. Katherine's fashion sense or style, on the other hand, is much more high maintenance, expensive and trendy. Another distinct difference between Elena and Katherine's physical appearance is that Elena always wears her hair straight with a middle part in which Katherine doesn't like, while Katherine wears her hair curly. However, Katherine often straightens her hair in order to fool people when she's posing as Elena.

Elena as a newly turned vampire wears a small lapis lazuli daylight ring made by Bonnie in order to protect her from the sunlight. Elena has a slightly more sophisticated look and trades her usual jeans and t-shirts to dresses and boots. Since Elena now has the freedom to accessorize, she dips into her jewelry box more often. Elena is seen wearing more chain necklaces in season 4. After she abandons her humanity, she becomes more womanly in the way she looks. She gets red streaks in her hair and curls it. She also begins to wear skirts and belts. When Katherine possessed Elena, she removed the red streaks.

In *American Gothic*, Elena impersonates Katherine for the first time. As she has now changed her style, she's able to temporarily fool Elijah of her identity. As Katherine's wardrobe is much more adult, Elena switches her comfortable boots for high heels, casual denim jacket for slim fitting leather and took Katherine's sparkly eye catching jewelry including earrings, bracelets and her watch. To pass for Katherine, Elena also applies more make up, particularly dark eye shadow and eyeliner to a much more "sluttier" degree, as said by Rebekah. At first glance, Elena and Katherine are identical yet their personalities, mannerisms, style, and makeup differ greatly and are generally aspects which give away their identity.

In Season Five, Elena starts to wear more skinny jeans, low-heeled boots, low heels, combat boots, sleeveless blouses, leather jackets, short skirts and super short shorts, varied dresses, makeup, and plunges more in her jewelry box.

After returning to a human towards the end of Season Six, she stops curling her hair and goes back to her original straight hairstyle.

In Season Eight, after awakening from her magically induced coma, Elena is seen in black floral-print dress, combat boots, and a red sweater as she attends Stefan's Memorial.

In her wolf form, Elena possesses grey fur and has the typical glowing yellow eyes that comes with Lycanthropy.

## Powers and Abilities

### Human

She possesses fighting abilities to defend herself against vampires as she trained under Alaric and Damon. She knows how to stake vampires and also the traits of a vampire hunter. Currently Elena is the cure. Her blood, if every bit is drank by a person affected by Qetsiyah's immortality spell (and subsequently Esther's variation); (Original vampires, non-Original vampires, Augustine vampires, True Immortals, and Hybrids) then the recipient will be made the cure (effectively human) and Elena will return to life, aging to her appropriate human age, since this is that of a normal human, Elena by definition possesses an extra life so long as she dies by blood loss within her normal lifespan. Elena also possesses the abilities of the doppelgängers, meaning her blood can be used for various spells, particularly the magic stripping spell. Elena is also a Doppelgänger which means her blood in an unlimited (while she's alive) source of power for witches and siphoners as well.

### Vampire

Elena possessed all the standard powers and abilities of a non-Original vampire.

### Tribrid

Elena posses all the standard powers and abilities of a non-Original Vampire, werewolf, and witch.

## Weaknesses

### Human

Elena possessed all the typical weaknesses of a human.

### Vampire

Elena had the typical weaknesses of a non-Original vampire.

### Tribrid

Elena is powerful but if not used carefully she can destroy a city if her magic is going un-watches. Furthermore, as a possessor of the werewolf gene and part vampire, Elena will experience bouts of severe aggression. As a hybrid of all three supernatural species, the full extent and limits of Elena's weaknesses are currently unknown.

## Relationships

### Alexandria Gilbert

*Main Article: Elena and Alexandria*

*"She told me that our twin bond will never be broken or separated."*
— **Elena** to **The Crescent Wolves** about **Alex** in *God's Gonna Trouble the Water*
Elena is the older twin sister to Alex. After they're adoptive parents died, they wanted to help and protect each other. Once they become aware of the supernatural activities and entities of Mystic Falls, they worked to keep each other and their loved ones safe. Although they sometimes were led apart, they still seemed to retain their closeness as siblings. They love each other and are always willing to risk their lives to save one another. They have a bond that no one could ever break. They continue to protect each other seeing that they are what they have left each other. Losing their younger brother crushes them and causes Elena to turn her emotions off and Alex to do black magic, resulting her turning dark. Although Elena was human she does carrying the werewolf and witch gene just like Alex as Alex took Elena's powers in the womb before Alex used a spell from her ancestor to turn Elena into a tribrid like herself but minus being able to heal vampire's from werewolf bites.

### Jeremy Gilbert

*Main Article: Elena and Jeremy*

"*Look, Elena. You're my sister and I love you, no matter what you choose.*"
— **Jeremy** to **Elena** in *Graduation*

Jeremy is Elena's biological cousin/adoptive brother. Although Jeremy and Elena are biological first cousins, they've been raised together as siblings. After their parents died, they wanted to help and protect each other. Once the two of them became more aware of the supernatural activities and entities of Mystic Falls, Elena and Jeremy worked to keep each other and their other loved ones safe. Although they sometimes were led apart, they still seemed to retain their closeness as siblings. They love each other and are always willing to risk their lives to save one another. They have a bond that no one could ever break. After becoming a vampire, he still loves her regardless of what she is. They continue to protect each other seeing that they are what they have left each other. Losing her younger brother crushes her and causes her to turn her emotions off. But thanks to Bonnie, he was brought back to life.

### Damon Salvatore

*Main Article: Damon and Elena*

"*I don't have a choice, baby. You are, by far, the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in my 173 years on this Earth. The fact that I get to die knowing I was loved not just by anyone, but by you, Elena Gilbert. It's the epitome of a fulfilled life. It’s never gonna get any better than this. I peaked. I love you, Elena. Bye.*"
— **Damon** to **Elena** in *Home*

Damon Salvatore is Elena's best friend, husband, soulmate and Stefan's impulsive older brother. Elena met Damon at the dinner when Bonnie and Elena got to know Stefan better. After a while, she started to view Damon as self-centered, violent, sociopathic and cruel, especially when she found out that he continuously abused and used her close friend, Caroline Forbes against her will. Originally, Damon disliked Elena and was rather apathetic about whether Elena lived or died. Damon and Elena's friendship deepens with time and the two become closer, Damon fallen for Elena and Elena developing feelings for Damon. But throughout the series, he has grown and changed, protecting not only Elena, but her family and friends as well. Elena and Damon became closer than ever, and the sexual tension between them increased as Elena's emotions were heightened. During Season Four, Stefan ends his relationship with Elena because of her no longer fighting the feelings she has for Damon. Elena admitted to Damon that he was the reason for her breakup with Stefan and with Jeremy trying to kill her, Elena was forced to move into the boarding house with Damon. Stefan moved out when she moved in because of the awkward situation and relationship between her and Damon. Damon and Elena made love for the first time and became a real couple the night she moved in with him. During their romance, Damon has never given any indication that Elena would “lose” him, under any circumstances really. Quite the opposite, he promised never to leave her again. The passion they share is hard to define. Damon once again had the opportunity to prove his worth and show Elena his humanity. She brings out the good side of him — that he doesn't have to kill for fun and drink blood from innocent people. This humanity makes it only harder for Elena to hide her true feelings for Damon. She cares very much about him. Throughout, she maintains a rocky relationship with him but they manage to overcome anything. She once again confessed her love for him after the sire bond was broken in the season finale. At the start of Season Five, having had the perfect summer together they were determined to make their long distance relationship work while she attended college. Their happiness was short-lived, however, as Elena and Damon's relationship was repeatedly assailed by a seemingly endless number of difficulties. They had to come to terms with Stefan's summer-long imprisonment and the revelation of Bonnie's death, all the while having to deal with Silas and Qetsiyah's struggle for dominance. Things were further complicated by the Augustine Society and a vengeful Katherine Pierce's machinations as well as the threat posed by the Travelers and their leader, Markos. These events among others had devastating emotional impacts on Damon and Elena and led them to question the wisdom of their relationship. Despite all this and having numerous arguments, separations, breakups and reconciliations, they never denied their love for each other. Ultimately, their love and the notable support of Stefan allowed them to come back together once again before the season's end. After losing her soulmate, Elena has currently been struggling with the empty void in her life that Damon should fill. Resorting to drug induced hypnotism and selective memory loss has proved to be a dangerous and heartbreaking coping mechanism for Elena. She later compels away all the good memories of Damon through Alaric. To her surprise, Damon is brought back to life and she felt nothing towards him, not believing she was ever in love with him. However, Damon's efforts to bring back Bonnie impress her and they rekindle their love for each other.

### Alaric Saltzman

*Main Article: Alaric and Elena*

"*You’re going to think that the pain will never end, but it will. But first you have to let it all in. You can’t fight it. It’s bigger than you. You have to let yourself drown in it. But then eventually you’ll start to swim. And then every single breath that you fight for will make you stronger. And I promise you, you will beat it.*"
— **Elena** to **Alaric** in *I'm Thinking Of You All The While*

Alaric is Elena's step father and guardian. They became close when Alaric started dating her aunt Jenna. Alaric was also her history tutor. Alaric taught Elena how to protect herself from vampires and how to fight. Alaric became the legal guardian of Elena when her aunt Jenna was killed by Klaus. As Elena didn't have much family left, Alaric was there for her and Jeremy. Alaric along with Damon, protected Elena from the dangers that surrounded them. Elena was devastated when Esther turned Alaric into an Original resulting into him not completing the transition. But Esther took control of Bonnie and made her feed him her blood so that the transition would complete. Alaric then took Elena hostage so he could lead Klaus there to kill him. Elena realized that their lives are connected meaning if she dies, he dies. The moment Elena had died, Alaric died in Damon's arms and Elena came back as a vampire. During season four, she had mourned him and amends were then made. She was reunited with him when he was brought back to life in the Season Five finale, due to Damon and Bonnie's sacrifices.

### Bonnie Bennett

*Main Article: Elena and Bonnie*

"*I know you think now, that you can't have a normal life, that you need to be here for everyone, but you don't. Everyone will find their way.*"
— **Bonnie** to **Elena** in *For Whom the Bell Tolls*

Bonnie Bennett has been best friends with Elena since birth. Bonnie is also a close friend of Caroline Forbes and Alexandria Gilbert. Bonnie has mentioned that she and Elena are so close they're like sisters, and she would die for Elena in an instant without hesitation. Throughout the series, Bonnie is protective of Elena, even risking her life to ensure Elena's safety and protection. Elena used to joke about Bonnie's "supernatural" or psychic powers until Bonnie eventually discovered she is descended from a long line of powerful witches, inheriting the gifts herself. From the episode "*Isobel*" and onward, their friendship has remained relatively consistent and the two remain best friends. Ever since Jeremy died and Elena turned off her humanity, Elena ruined her friendship with Bonnie by almost trying to kill her. When Elena got her humanity back, she and Bonnie are now back to being best friends and have a strong friendship. They are also roommates with Caroline in college. However, the Other Side began collapsing which to its destruction and taking down Bonnie as well. Bonnie died with Damon who was still trapped on the Other Side and Elena was greatly devastated. They are reunited in *I Was Feeling Epic.*

### Caroline Forbes

*Main Article: Elena and Caroline*

"*I'm really glad that you're here.*"
— **Caroline** to **Elena** in *I Know What You Did Last Summer*

Although Elena and Caroline had been friends since birth, Caroline's constant insecurities as a human, which made her jealous of Elena at times, had created and maintained a friendly rivalry between the two. When Caroline became a vampire, her insecurities went away, and their relationship improved a lot as a result. When Elena became a vampire herself, however, she broke up with Stefan and started dating Damon instead. And because Caroline could never accept this, as she never liked Damon and always saw Stefan as the better brother, their friendship degraded considerably. Later, it further degraded after Elena turned her humanity off, to the point that they are were enemies: Elena tried to stake Caroline, and will do everything that she can to ruin the prom dance that she carefully planned. She also almost killed Caroline's mother, Liz. That problem seems to be fixed in the latest episode. Now they are back to being best friends and has upgraded tremendously. They were roommates in college.

### Other Relationships

* Elena, Alexandria, Jeremy, and Jenna (Former Family Bond/Jenna died)
* Elena and Jenna (Adoptive Maternal Aunt/Good Friends)
* John, Isobel, Elena, Alexandria (Parents and Daughters/Frenemies)
* Elena and John (Biological Father and Daughter)
* Elena and Isobel (Biological Mother and Daughter/Frenemies)
* Elena and Katherine (Maternal Ancestor/Former Enemies/Allies)
* Elena, Alexandria, Caroline, and Bonnie (Best Friends and Sister)
* Elena and Matt (Best Friends)
* Elena and Tyler (Friends/Former Allies)
* Elena and Vicki (Former Enemies)

* Elena and Elijah (Friends/Former Enemies/Allies/Brother-In-Law)
* Elena and Klaus (Former Enemies/Allies/Brother-In-Law)
* Elena and Rebekah (Enemies/Friends/Allies/Sister-In-Law)
* Elena and April (Ex-Friends)
* Elena and Silas (Enemies)
* Elena and Aaron (Former Friends)
* Elena and Liv (Former Allies/Frenemies)
* Elena and Luke (Friends/Former Allies)
* Elena and Jo (Friends/Former Allies)
* Elena and Kai (Enemies/Former Allies)
* Elena and Liam (Friends/Exes)

## Name

* **Elena** is a feminine first name of Greek origin ‘Ελενη (Elene) or ‘ελενη (Elene) which means "**torch**". The meaning of Elena is "the shining light", "the bright one", or "light". It is a variation of the name ***Helen***. This likely means Elena and Katherine are based on Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, twin sisters, Helen being the most beautiful mortal in the world and Clytemnestra, a less beautiful version.
* **Rose** is derived from the Latin "Rosa", the name of a fragrant flower. Unlike Damon's and Stefan's, the name was quite popular in the times when Rose became a vampire.
* **Gilbert**, which is Elena's surname, is a surname of Germanic origin. The English-language surname is derived from Giselbert, a medieval personal name composed of the following Germanic elements gisil ("pledge", "hostage", "noble youth") and berht ("bright", "famous").
* **Salvatore** is Italian and means "savior".
* Elena's birth name, **Gabriella**, is a girl's name of Spanish, Italian origin meaning "God is my strength".
* **Labonair** may be derived from Bonaire. This interesting name has a number of possible origins, each with its own distinct derivation. Firstly, the surname may be of Old French origin, derived from the Old French term "bonnaire", from the phrase "de bon(ne) aire", meaning "of good bearing or appearance", and adopted into Middle English as "boner(e), bonour", gentle, courteous, handsome, thence used as a nickname for someone thought to embody these qualities. The surname from this source is found particularly in England and Scotland; one Thomas Boner was the first of the name to be recorded in Scotland as a charter witness in Aberdeen in 1281. Secondly, Bonner may be an Irish (County Donegal) translation of the Gaelic "O'Cnaimhsighe", descendant of Cnaimhseach, a byname meaning "Midwife". Finally, the surname may be of Welsh origin, as an Anglicized form of the patronymic "ab Ynyr", son of Ynyr, a personal name derived from the Latin "Honorius", Honoured.