Helena
Helena is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “bright, shining light; torch.” It ranked #363 in the United States in 2025. The Latinized form of the Greek Helene.
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how do you pronounce Helena?
HEL-eh-nah or heh-LAY-nah
where does the name Helena come from?
Helena is the Latin form of the Greek Helénē, Helen.
Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, is credited with discovering the True Cross in Jerusalem, cementing the name's Christian significance. It also evokes the remote Atlantic island of Saint Helena.
how popular is this name?
Helena has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 145 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #194 in 1881, and ranked #363 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #363 |
| 2024 | #414 |
| 2023 | #456 |
| 2022 | #471 |
| 2021 | #512 |
| 2020 | #512 |
| 2019 | #474 |
| 2018 | #458 |
| 2017 | #515 |
| 2016 | #517 |
| 2010 | #534 |
| 2000 | #662 |
| 1990 | #946 |
| 1980 | #759 |
| 1970 | #736 |
| 1960 | #694 |
| 1950 | #562 |
| 1940 | #477 |
| 1930 | #427 |
| 1920 | #334 |
| 1910 | #293 |
| 1900 | #316 |
| 1890 | #248 |
| 1881 | #194 |
| 1880 | #198 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Helena fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Helena
Helena is recorded as a name in Sweden as early as the 12th century.
who are famous people named Helena?
- Saint Helena (empress)
- Helena Bonham Carter (actress)
- Helena Christensen (model)
what are the nicknames and variants of Helena?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Helena?
what names go well with Helena?
Sibling names that share Helena's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Helena
What does the name Helena mean?
Helena means “bright, shining light; torch”.
What is the origin of the name Helena?
Helena comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Helen.
How popular is the name Helena?
Helena ranked #363 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1881, at #194, and it has spent 145 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Helena a boy or girl name?
Helena is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Helena?
Helena is pronounced HEL-eh-nah or heh-LAY-nah, with 7 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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