Find out how popular the first name Helen has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Helen by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Helen is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Helen being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 768 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Helen.

The history of the first name Helen

The name Helen has its origins in the Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "helene," which means "bright" or "shining one." The name's earliest known use dates back to Ancient Greece, around the 8th century BCE.

In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was a figure of great significance. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and her abduction by Paris of Troy is said to have sparked the Trojan War. This event is depicted in the Iliad, one of the earliest known works of literature, written by Homer around the 8th century BCE.

The name Helen also appears in the New Testament of the Bible. In the Book of Acts, a woman named Helen is mentioned as a follower of the prophet Simon Magus. This reference dates back to the 1st century CE.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Helen was Helen of Constantinople, also known as Saint Helen or Saint Helena. She was the mother of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor, and lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE.

Another notable figure was Helen of Anjou, who lived from 1236 to 1314. She was a Queen consort of Sicily and a member of the House of Anjou. Her name was also spelled as Helena or Helene.

In the 16th century, Helen of Sweden, also known as Helena Giedyminowicz, was a Polish-born queen of Sweden. She lived from 1508 to 1585 and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Sweden.

Helen Keller, born in 1880 and died in 1968, was a renowned American author, political activist, and lecturer. Despite being deaf and blind from a young age, she became a prominent advocate for people with disabilities and a champion of social justice.

Helen Hayes, who lived from 1900 to 1993, was an American actress widely regarded as the "First Lady of American Theatre." She was one of the few performers to have won all four major American entertainment awards: an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Helen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Helen, please contact us.

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