The baby name Helena may sound vintage, but it has a royal background. The name is associated with the daughter of Zeus in Greek mythology and with one of the patron saints of the Christian church. Now, it is close to a top 500 name for baby girls.
Meaning and Origin of the name Helena:
Helena is a beautiful girl's name of Latin origin meaning “bright” or “shining light.”
Helena originated as the Latin version of the baby name Helen. Both come from the Greek name Helenē, which is from the Greek word helene (meaning “torch,” “bright,” or “shining light”). The first Helen was actually the daughter of Zeus who was kidnapped to start the Trojan War. The baby name Helena became a popular Latin version around the fourth century when Saint Helena, who was the mother of Constantine, became well-known.
Symbolism of the name Helena:
Helena is a variant of the name Helen. Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman in Greece and the daughter of Zues and the mortal woman Leda, Queen of Sparta. Helena is symbolic of beauty and elegance.
Nicknames for the name Helena:
Helena is a name as beautiful as those who've borne it in the past. If you are thinking of naming your baby girl Helena and are looking for nicknames that go along with the name, then we have the perfect list for you. Take a look at the list below for the cutest nicknames for Helena.
Style of the name Helena:
Classical
Gender of the name Helena:
Helena is a classical and ancient name for baby girls.
Pronunciation of the name Helena:
he-LAYN-uh or he-LEEN-uh
Number of syllables in the name Helena:
Three
Emotion evoked from the name Helena:
Helena feels upper class and regal. It has a bit of a delicacy and vintage understatement to it as well.
Alternative spellings for the name Helena:
- Helenna
- Hellena
- Hellenna
- Helina
- Hellina
- Heleena
Popularity of the name Helena:
Helena, as of the year 2020, ranks at 509 for girls. The name was the most popular in the year 1902 at rank 270, however. It has fluctuated back and forth on the top 500 list and back to the top 1,000 list for the past century.
Related names for the name Helena:
Great middle names for Helena and their meanings:
- Ivy (evergreen climbing plant)
- Phoebe (bright, shining)
- Claire (clear)
- Eloise (healthy, wide)
- Margaret (pearl)
- Ruby (red gemstone)
- Simone (hear, listen)
- Theresa (late summer)
Famous people with the name Helena:
- Helena Carter (actress, “Invaders from Mars”)
- Helena Devereux (famous educator)
- Helena Dow (Olympic fencer)
- Helena Modjeska (Shakespearean actress)
- Helena Mattsson (actress, “Code of Honor”)
- Helena Sukova (tennis player)
Helenas in popular culture:
- Helena Henstridge (character from “The Royals”)
- Helena Harford (character from “Eyes Wide Shut”)
- Helena Wells (character from “Warehouse 13”)
- Helena Pierce (character from “Borderlands” video game)
- Helena Cassadine (character from “General Hospital”)
- Helena (character from “Orphan Black”)
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Olesia Bilkei/Shutterstock.com.