Where does the name Helen come from?

Helen is a girl name of Ancient Greek origin.

Is Helen a boy or a girl name?

Helen is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Helen are girls and 0% are boys.

How popular is the name Helen in 2023?

Helen ranks #395 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1918 with 36,228 babies.

How do you pronounce Helen?

Helen is pronounced HEL-en (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Helen?

Helen is also written as Helena, Hélène, Elena, Ellen, Eleanor.

A name from Ancient Greek · Girl

Helen

From Greek Ἑλένη (Helenē), traditionally linked to ἑλένη meaning 'torch' or 'the shining one' — the deeper root remains uncertain. Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, was the most beautiful woman in the ancient world and the cause of the Trojan War.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

1,022,806 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

777 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

HFrom Greek Ἑλένη (Helenē), traditionally linked to ἑλένη meaning 'torch' or 'the shining one' — the deeper root remains uncertain. Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, was the most beautiful woman in the ancient world and the cause of the Trojan War.

Variants & spellings

5 ways to spell "Helen".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Helena Most common Hélène Elena Ellen Eleanor

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Helen.

H
Helen Keller (author and activist)
H
Helen Mirren (actress)
H
Helen of Troy (Greek mythology)

Quick answers

People often ask about Helen.

What does the name Helen mean?: Helen means from Greek Ἑλένη (Helenē), traditionally linked to ἑλένη meaning 'torch' or 'the shining one' — the deeper root remains uncertain. Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus, was the most beautiful woman in the ancient world and the cause of the Trojan War.
Where does the name Helen come from?: Helen is a girl name of Ancient Greek origin.
Is Helen a boy or a girl name?: Helen is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Helen are girls and 0% are boys.
How popular is the name Helen in 2023?: Helen ranks #395 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1918 with 36,228 babies.
How do you pronounce Helen?: Helen is pronounced HEL-en (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Helen?: Helen is also written as Helena, Hélène, Elena, Ellen, Eleanor.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.