How to say it
HEL · en
/ˈhɛl.ən/
Feminine
Helen
Torch, light
What it means
Greek, usually read as 'torch,' 'light,' or 'bright one'; the name of Helen of Troy.
Helen comes from the Greek and is usually tied to helene, 'torch,' or to a root for 'light' and 'bright.' Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships, made it legendary, and Saint Helena and Helen Keller carried it forward. It is the source of Helena, Elena, Eleanor, and Ellie. A timeless classic. Said HEL-en.
Popularity over time
peaked at #2 in 1900, currently #462 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
The root of Helena, Elena, Eleanor, and Ellie.
- Pop culture
Helen of Troy; Helen Keller.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Helen Keller author and activist, first deafblind person to earn a college degree
Spelling variants
- Helena
- Hellen
- Helene
Names with the same feeling
See Helen from another angle
By meaning
By style