Helen

“To shine, burn, or glow (Proto-Indo-European root swel-)” — Greek origin

Girl's name · #462 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Helen was #2 back in 1900, spent 37 years inside the national top 5, and stands at #462 today. About 1.0 million girls have carried it since 1880. Nellie is a short form of Helen.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,100 girls in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 3,000 girls in Austria (2025) · about 1 in 3,100 girls in Switzerland (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 36 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Helens

Helen Keller — American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968)
Helen Mirren — English actress (born 1945)
Helen Clark — Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008
Helen Hunt — American actress
Helen Hayes — American actress (1900–1993)

In stories & tradition

Helen of Troy — Iliad · Odyssey
Helen (Elastigirl) — The Incredibles · Incredibles 2
Helen Lovejoy — The Simpsons

What Helens become

Among 3,353 notable people named Helen:

Artists & writers appear 1.58× more often than among typical names — e.g. Helen Keller, American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968).

Similar names: Ellen · Martha · Elle · Kate · Dorothy · Irene

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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