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What does Helen mean?

Helen ▼ as a girls' name is pronounced HEL-en. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Helen is "sun ray". Linked to Greek hêlios "sun", and sometimes taken as connected to the Greek word Hellên meaning "Greek". Mythology: the abduction of Zeus's mortal daughter, Helen of Troy, resulted in the Trojan War. Hers was "the face that launched a thousand ships". There was a Saint Helena, mother to Constantine the Great, whose purity allowed her to discover the True Cross. The name was popular in medieval Europe and many variants came about including Eileen, Elaine, Eleanor, Ellen, Ilona and Lena. Writer Helen Keller; actresses Helen Hayes, Helen Hunt, Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham-Carter; publisher Helen Gurley Brown; singer Helen Reddy.

STARTS/ENDS WITH He-, -en

ASSOCIATED WITH greek, sun (star), mythology, war (battle), saint, great, purity (virgin), true, medieval, brown

Variations

VARIANTS Aileen, Ailene, Aleanor, Alena▲, Alene▼, Aline▼, Alyona, Eileen▼, Eilidh, Elaina▲, Elaine▼, Elana, Elayne, Eleanor, Eleanore▼, Elena▲, Eleni, Elenora▼, Elenore, Eleonora, Elianora, Elinor▼, Ella, Elladine, Elleanora, Elle▲, Ellee, Ellen▼, Ellenora, Ellette, Ellie▲, Ellin, Elliner, Ellinor, Elly, Ellyn, Elnora▼, Galina, Halina, Helaina, Helaine, Helana, Heleanor, Heleen, Heleena, Heleentje, Helenore, Helena, Helenann, Helenna, Helene▼, Helia, Hella, Hellen▼, Hellena, Hellene, Hellenor, Hellia, Ileana, Ilene▼, Ili, Ilka, Ilona, Jelena, Lana▲, Lean, Leana, Leanora, Lena▼, Leni, Lenore▼, Leonara, Leonora▼, Leonore, Leora▼, Lienor, Lina, Nelda▼, Nell▼, Nellette, Nelliana, Nellie▼, Nelly, Nonnie, Nora▲, Yelena

RELATED FORMS VIA EILEEN, ELAINE, ELEANOR, ELLEN, ILONA, LENA Aleen, Ayleen▲, Eilean, Eilena, Eilene, Eiley, Eilin, Elan, Elen, Elene, Elin, Ellan, Elleen, Ellena, Ellene, Ellon, Elon, Elyn, Helenora, Ileen, Leena▲, Nelle▼, Nelley, Nelli

CREATIVE FORMS
(female) Holen, ..
(male) Heley, ..

MIDDLE NAME PAIRINGS
Helen Kimora (H.K.), ..

How popular is Helen?

Helen is a very popular first name for women (#15 out of 4276, Top 1%) and also a very popular surname for all people (#41448 out of 150436, Top 28%). (2000 U.S. DEMOGRAPHICS)

Helen reached its apex rank of #2 in the U.S. during 1910-1919, and is at #413 presently. (TOP 2000 NAMES, 2018)

Top 2000 baby names ranking of Helen name in U.S.

Top 100 baby names ranking of Helen outside U.S.

Which version is better?

Aileen (#669 LAST YEAR), Ailene, Alana (#200), Aleen, Alena (#736), Alene, Alina (#157), Aline, Ayleen (#925), Eileen (#671), Eilene, Eilidh, Elaina (#272), Elaine (#634), Elana (#1581), Elayne, Eleanor (#32), Eleanore (#1918), Elena (#66), Elene, Eleni (#1726), Elenora, Elenore, Eleonora, Elin (#1186), Elinor (#1399), Ella (#15), Elle (#380), Ellen (#770), Ellena, Ellene, Ellie (#37), Ellinor, Elly (#1603), Ellyn, Elnora, Gala, Helaine, Helena (#458), Helene, Hellen, Ileana (#1928), Ileen, Ilene, Ilona, Lana (#360), Leana, Leanna (#827), Leanora, Leena (#1158), Lena (#301), Lenore, Leonora, Leonore, Leora (#1680), Lina (#760), Nelda, Nell, Nelle, Nellie (#1071), Nelly (#1982), Nonnie, Nora (#30) and Olena are the prominent alternative forms of Helen (#413). These forms of Helen were at the top of their popularity during the years 1910-1919 (ADOPTION OF 6%) and are now much less common (ADOPTION 2.5%, ▼58%). Ella is the continual favorite, although Elena appears to be becoming a favorite too, while forms like Nelda are now somewhat dated.