Helena

Helena: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “torch; shining light”
Origin: Greek
Say it: heh-LAY-nuh · 3 syllables
Used for: Girls

From Greek Helene, probably related to a word for 'torch' or to shining light. Helena is a longstanding international form used across Europe and beyond.

Greek names English names Spanish names Portuguese names Names meaning light Classic names International names Mythological names

How popular is Helena?

2024226 per million US babies

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.

Compare with another name

Babies named Helena in 2024754

2024 rank#414 girls

Peak year1899

Total US babies since 188039,561

Helena has been fairly stable over the last fifteen years.

Names like Helena

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Lenalight · Greek
Sophiawisdom · Greek
Sofiawisdom · Greek
Chloeyoung green shoot · Greek
Zoelife · Greek
Penelopeweaver; duck · Greek
Elenabright, shining light · Greek
Genesisorigin; creation; birth · Greek

Helena questions

What does the name Helena mean?

Helena means "torch; shining light". It comes from Greek. From Greek Helene, probably related to a word for 'torch' or to shining light. Helena is a longstanding international form used across Europe and beyond.

Is Helena a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Helena?

754 US babies were named Helena in 2024. Its peak year was 1899.

How do you pronounce Helena?

Helena is usually pronounced heh-LAY-nuh.

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.