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Helen

Helen: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“torch; shining light”
Origin
Greek
Say it
HEL-ən · 2 syllables
Used for
Girls

From Greek Helene, traditionally linked to light or torch. In Greek myth, Helen of Troy is a central figure.

Greek namesEnglish namesAmerican namesNames meaning lightNames meaning fireClassic namesMythological namesInternational names

How popular is Helen?

2024218 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Helen in 2024726

2024 rank#424 girls

Peak year1911

Total US babies since 18801,026,632

Helen is steady now but far below its 1911 peak.

Names like Helen

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Laineybright shining one · English
  • Elainebright, shining light · French
  • Alenabright, shining light · Slavic
  • Ellentorch; bright shining one · Greek
  • Elinabright, shining one · Greek
  • Elenitorch; shining light · Greek
  • Hellentorch; shining light · Greek
  • Helenetorch; shining light · Greek

Helen questions

What does the name Helen mean?

Helen means "torch; shining light". It comes from Greek. From Greek Helene, traditionally linked to light or torch. In Greek myth, Helen of Troy is a central figure.

Is Helen a boy or girl name?

Helen is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Helen?

726 US babies were named Helen in 2024. Its peak year was 1911.

How do you pronounce Helen?

Helen is usually pronounced HEL-ən.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.