Helen
Helen is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “bright, shining light; torch.” It ranked #265 in the United States in 2025. From the Greek Helene, likely derived from helios (sun) or selas (light).
how do you pronounce Helen?
HEL-en
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Helen mean?
The name Helen means “bright, shining light; torch.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
From the Greek Helene, likely derived from helios (sun) or selas (light). Helen of Troy — whose abduction sparked the Trojan War — is one of the most famous women of classical antiquity. The name has been in continuous use for millennia.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #265 |
| 2023 | #285 |
| 2022 | #306 |
| 2021 | #330 |
| 2020 | #356 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Helen?
- Helen Keller (activist)
- Helen Mirren (actress)
- Helen of Troy (mythological figure)
what names are similar to Helen?
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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