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.
how do you pronounce Helena?
HEL-eh-nah or heh-LAY-nah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Helena mean?
The name Helena means “bright, shining light; torch.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
The Latinized form of the Greek Helene. 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.
where does the name Helena come from?
Wiktionary derives Helena from the Latin form of the Greek Helénē, cognate with Helen; Wikipedia agrees it is the Latin form of Helen. Neither source gives an English translation, so the "bright, shining light, torch" meaning claimed elsewhere is not confirmed here.
the history of Helena
One Wiktionary entry notes Helena was first recorded as a name in Sweden in the 12th century. The sources are silent on Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, and the Atlantic island.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #363 |
| 2024 | #414 |
| 2023 | #456 |
| 2022 | #471 |
| 2021 | #513 |
| 2020 | #512 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Helena?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Helena?
- Saint Helena (empress)
- Helena Bonham Carter (actress)
- Helena Christensen (model)
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.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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