Helen is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Helen means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Helen across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Helen has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Helen is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “of uncertain meaning, often linked to light or torch”. Helen of Troy in classical myth.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 1,027,307 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 3,367 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 3,308 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 131 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 8,190 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 7,775 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Helen per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1918 (36,228/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1965 (453/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (435/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1975 (255/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1999 (15/yr).
Helen has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1918, when it ranked #6 nationally (given to 36,228 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1910s.
Helene · Helena · Hellen · Helyn · Helaine · Hulon · Helon · Hollyn
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