-
Helen Name Origin: Greek
-
Pronunciation: he-len
-
See what 8 people think about Helen
Helen Name Meaning
The name Helen means “bright, shining light” in Greek. It is a beautiful name that signifies radiance, beauty, and intelligence. It is also associated with the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite, as Helen was considered the most beautiful woman in the world.
Origins of the Name Helen
The name Helen is of Greek origin and is derived from the Greek word “helene,” meaning “bright, shining light.” In Greek mythology, Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda and the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. She was considered the most beautiful woman in the world and was the cause of the Trojan War, as her beauty was the reason Paris, prince of Troy, kidnapped her.
But Helen’s story doesn’t end there. In fact, her tale has been retold and reimagined in countless works of literature and art throughout history. From Homer’s “Iliad” to Shakespeare’s “Troilus and Cressida,” Helen has been a constant figure in Western culture.
The name Helen is of Greek origin, but it has also been used in several other languages over time, such as English, German, Scandinavian, and Spanish. The name Helen has a classic and sophisticated feel to it, and has been used for centuries.
Popularity of the Name Helen
Throughout the years, the name Helen has been a popular choice for parents. In fact, it was one of the top 100 names for girls born in the United States between 1880 and 1960. The name Helen saw a resurgence in popularity in the 2000s and 2010s, and it is still a popular choice for parents today.
Final Thoughts on the Name Helen
In conclusion, the name Helen has a rich history, timeless appeal, and a beautiful meaning. From Greek mythology to popular culture, Helen has been a constant presence. So, if you’re looking for a sophisticated and classic name for your little girl, Helen may just be the perfect choice. With its bright and shining meaning, it’s sure to bring light and beauty to your child’s life.
Infographic of Helen name meaning, which is “She shines in beauty,” from the Greek helene, something that shines, as a torch.
Ask your friends & family about Helen…
Helen Name Popularity
How popular is the name Helen? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
2 |
10,479 |
2.9763% |
| 1911 |
2 |
11,801 |
3.1691% |
| 1912 |
2 |
16,133 |
3.1991% |
| 1913 |
2 |
18,888 |
3.3314% |
| 1914 |
2 |
23,221 |
3.332% |
| 1915 |
2 |
30,866 |
3.3973% |
| 1916 |
2 |
32,662 |
3.3812% |
| 1917 |
2 |
34,251 |
3.4236% |
| 1918 |
2 |
36,148 |
3.3681% |
| 1919 |
2 |
33,706 |
3.2189% |
| 1920 |
3 |
35,097 |
3.1566% |
| 1921 |
3 |
34,821 |
3.0409% |
| 1922 |
3 |
32,507 |
2.9178% |
| 1923 |
3 |
31,490 |
2.8115% |
| 1924 |
3 |
31,187 |
2.6856% |
| 1925 |
4 |
29,170 |
2.5808% |
| 1926 |
4 |
26,885 |
2.4444% |
| 1927 |
4 |
25,319 |
2.2873% |
| 1928 |
4 |
22,934 |
2.1434% |
| 1929 |
4 |
20,984 |
2.0259% |
| 1930 |
4 |
19,914 |
1.9064% |
| 1931 |
6 |
17,660 |
1.7893% |
| 1932 |
8 |
16,374 |
1.6574% |
| 1933 |
8 |
14,643 |
1.5717% |
| 1934 |
9 |
14,100 |
1.4586% |
| 1935 |
10 |
12,781 |
1.3152% |
| 1936 |
11 |
12,230 |
1.2696% |
| 1937 |
12 |
11,454 |
1.1624% |
| 1938 |
13 |
10,831 |
1.058% |
| 1939 |
16 |
10,418 |
1.0242% |
| 1940 |
18 |
10,199 |
0.9595% |
| 1941 |
24 |
9,889 |
0.8786% |
| 1942 |
26 |
10,015 |
0.7931% |
| 1943 |
28 |
9,796 |
0.7504% |
| 1944 |
31 |
8,694 |
0.7015% |
| 1945 |
31 |
8,301 |
0.6806% |
| 1946 |
36 |
8,851 |
0.5998% |
| 1947 |
38 |
8,979 |
0.5379% |
| 1948 |
40 |
8,304 |
0.5202% |
| 1949 |
46 |
7,706 |
0.479% |
| 1950 |
50 |
7,059 |
0.4384% |
| 1951 |
54 |
6,949 |
0.4099% |
| 1952 |
63 |
6,469 |
0.3706% |
| 1953 |
65 |
6,118 |
0.3457% |
| 1954 |
72 |
5,944 |
0.3252% |
| 1955 |
78 |
5,594 |
0.3041% |
| 1956 |
90 |
5,273 |
0.2792% |
| 1957 |
95 |
5,014 |
0.2606% |
| 1958 |
100 |
4,764 |
0.2521% |
| 1959 |
108 |
4,372 |
0.2301% |
| 1960 |
117 |
4,069 |
0.2148% |
| 1961 |
119 |
3,856 |
0.2042% |
| 1962 |
128 |
3,582 |
0.1951% |
| 1963 |
124 |
3,337 |
0.1859% |
| 1964 |
132 |
3,095 |
0.1758% |
| 1965 |
137 |
2,792 |
0.1707% |
| 1966 |
144 |
2,438 |
0.1561% |
| 1967 |
158 |
2,144 |
0.1413% |
| 1968 |
173 |
1,859 |
0.1238% |
| 1969 |
175 |
1,837 |
0.1192% |
| 1970 |
189 |
1,698 |
0.1067% |
| 1971 |
208 |
1,416 |
0.0942% |
| 1972 |
224 |
1,223 |
0.0898% |
| 1973 |
225 |
1,103 |
0.0851% |
| 1974 |
225 |
1,114 |
0.0857% |
| 1975 |
228 |
1,041 |
0.081% |
| 1976 |
247 |
922 |
0.0715% |
| 1977 |
249 |
966 |
0.0717% |
| 1978 |
257 |
891 |
0.0663% |
| 1979 |
279 |
844 |
0.0599% |
| 1980 |
274 |
887 |
0.0607% |
| 1981 |
276 |
854 |
0.0581% |
| 1982 |
278 |
845 |
0.0565% |
| 1983 |
278 |
809 |
0.0548% |
| 1984 |
282 |
821 |
0.0552% |
| 1985 |
301 |
779 |
0.0513% |
| 1986 |
315 |
725 |
0.048% |
| 1987 |
298 |
776 |
0.0509% |
| 1988 |
324 |
728 |
0.0467% |
| 1989 |
303 |
831 |
0.0515% |
| 1990 |
321 |
827 |
0.0499% |
| 1991 |
342 |
730 |
0.0448% |
| 1992 |
327 |
796 |
0.0499% |
| 1993 |
305 |
839 |
0.0538% |
| 1994 |
319 |
815 |
0.0531% |
| 1995 |
328 |
792 |
0.0526% |
| 1996 |
314 |
862 |
0.0576% |
| 1997 |
347 |
770 |
0.0521% |
| 1998 |
346 |
805 |
0.0538% |
| 1999 |
357 |
797 |
0.0532% |
| 2000 |
346 |
859 |
0.0562% |
| 2001 |
345 |
851 |
0.0565% |
| 2002 |
341 |
844 |
0.0563% |
| 2003 |
391 |
745 |
0.049% |
| 2004 |
363 |
839 |
0.055% |
| 2005 |
331 |
934 |
0.0611% |
| 2006 |
349 |
914 |
0.0584% |
| 2007 |
345 |
917 |
0.0581% |
| 2008 |
365 |
857 |
0.0554% |
| 2009 |
383 |
797 |
0.0533% |
| 2010 |
433 |
667 |
0.0463% |
| 2011 |
426 |
689 |
0.0484% |
| 2012 |
399 |
734 |
0.0515% |
| 2013 |
410 |
695 |
0.0488% |
| 2014 |
395 |
764 |
0.0524% |
| 2015 |
413 |
722 |
0.0496% |
| 2016 |
395 |
781 |
0.0542% |
| 2017 |
403 |
726 |
0.052% |
| 2018 |
396 |
710 |
0.0517% |
| 2019 |
403 |
706 |
0.0522% |
| 2020 |
430 |
661 |
0.0519% |
| 2021 |
448 |
604 |
0.0494% |
| 2022 |
424 |
711 |
0.0539% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Helen
If you like Helen, you’ll love these other names like Helen.
What names are diminutives of Helen?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Helen sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Helen, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Lena
|
Woman from Magdala
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Nell
|
Horn; sun ray, shining light
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Nelly
|
A diminutive form of Helen.
|
Greek
|
|
|
What names are variants of Helen?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Helen.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Aileen
|
“She shines in beauty;” an Irish form of Helen.
|
Ancient
|
|
|
|
Ailene
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Aleanor
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Alene
|
Precious; awakening; light; sun ray, shining light
|
Polynesian
|
|
|
|
Aline
|
A variant form of Adeline.
|
Modern
|
|
|
|
Eileen
|
“The brightly shining one,” from the Greek lielene, something shining, as a torch.
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Eilidh
|
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Elaina
|
Shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elaine
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elana
|
Tree
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Elayne
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Eleanor
|
Of unknown meaning
|
English
|
|
|
|
Eleanore
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elena
|
Shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Eleni
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elenora
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elenore
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Eleonora
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elianora
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elinor
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ella
|
Other goddess
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Elladine
|
Sun ray, shining light; other, foreign
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elle
|
She
|
French
|
|
|
|
Elleanora
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellee
|
Other, foreign; sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellen
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellenora
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellette
|
Footloose; other, foreign; sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellie
|
Shortened form of El- names
|
English
|
|
|
|
Ellin
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elliner
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellinor
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elly
|
Sun ray, shining light; other, foreign
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ellyn
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Elnora
|
Compassion
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Galina
|
Calm
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Halina
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helaina
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helaine
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helana
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Heleanor
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Heleena
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helena
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helenann
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helene
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helenna
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helenore
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Helia
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Hella
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Hellen
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Hellena
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Hellene
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Hellenor
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Hellia
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ileana
|
God has answered; sun ray, shining light; tree; Trojan
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Ilene
|
|
Modern
|
|
|
|
Ilona
|
Light
|
Hungarian
|
|
|
|
Jelena
|
|
Russian
|
|
|
|
Lana
|
Little rock
|
English
|
|
|
|
Leanora
|
Sun ray, shining light; compassion; light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Lena
|
Woman from Magdala
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Lenore
|
Light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Leonara
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Leonora
|
Compassion; light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Leonore
|
Sun ray, shining light; compassion; light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Leora
|
Compassion; light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Lienor
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Lina
|
Palm tree
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Nelda
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Nell
|
Horn; sun ray, shining light
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Nellette
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Nelliana
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Nellie
|
Horn; sun ray, shining light
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Nelly
|
A diminutive form of Helen.
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Nonnie
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Nora
|
Honorable one
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Yelena
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Russian
|
|
|
What names sound like Helen?
If you like how Helen sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Helen.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Hollyann
|
The holly tree
|
English
|
|
|
What names are similar to Helen?
Find a name that’s like Helen, but just a little bit different.
Lists With Helen
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Helen.
Siblings of Helen
Mamas with kids named Helen also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
