Helen

Updated: October 22, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Helen is an English girl’s name that comes from the Greek name Helene. The name means “bright, shining light” or “moon.” Helen was popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Helen is an alternative to related names Helena and Ellen.

Meaning and Origin of the name Helen:

English: bright, shining light, torch, moon

Helen is an English girl’s name that comes from the Greek name Helenē, which is derived from either the term helene (meaning “torch,” “bright,” or “shining light”) or selene (meaning “moon”).

Symbolism of the name Helen:

Whether a torch or moonlight, Helen is a bright name associated with light. She is a bright spot in the dark and a guiding star to those around her.

Nicknames for the name Helen:

Helen is a refined name for girls that has a few cute nicknames. We put those nicknames in the list below to make it easy for your to find the best nickname for your baby girl.

Elle
Hellie
Ellie
El
Els

Style of the name Helen:

Traditional

Gender of the name Helen:

Helen is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Helen:

HEHL-ən (English)

Number of syllables in the name Helen:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Helen:

Helen evokes feelings of peace and love.

Alternative spellings for the name Helen:

Hellen
Helan
Helyn

Popularity of the name Helen:

According to the Social Security Administration, Helen has remained a popular girl’s name since 1900. Helen was in the top 100 names from 1900 to 1957. It has slowly dropped in popularity since then and is #424 as of 2020.