Helena

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly shining light or torch
Origin: Greek — Latin form of Helen

Nicknames: Lena

Girl's name · #363 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Helena was #194 in 1881, slipped to #1007 by 1992, and has climbed back to #363 today. About 40,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Helena is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 34 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Helena ranks in other countries and regions.

#1 in Brazil (2025, through 23 Dec 2025, girls and boys combined) · #14 in Poland (2025) · #23 in Austria (2025) · #81 in Switzerland (2025) · #92 in Spain (2024) · #95 in Belgium (2025) · #97 in Puerto Rico (2025) · #130 in Slovenia (2025) · #134 in Italy (2024) · #141 in Mexico (2024) · #166 in Ireland (2025) · #173 in Norway (2025) and 15 more.

Famous Helenas

Helena Bonham Carter — British actress (born 1966)
Helena Blavatsky — Russian-American mystic and writer (1831–1891)
Helena Augusta — Saint, first wife of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus, and mother of Emperor Constantine the Great (250–330)
Helena Paparizou — Greek singer (born 1982)
Helena Rubinstein — Polish and American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist (1872–1965)
Helena Christensen — Danish fashion model (born 1968)
Helena Dragaš — Byzantine empress consort (1372–1450)
Helena Suková — Czech tennis player (born 1965)
Helena Gualinga — Ecuadorian activist (born 2002)
Helena Fibingerová — Czech shot putter (born 1949)

In stories & tradition

Helena Ravenclaw — Fictional ghost from Harry Potter franchise
Helena (Huntress) — DC Comics character
Helena Wayne — DC Comics superhero

What Helenas become

Among 2,854 notable people named Helena:

Medical professionals appear 1.79× more often than among typical names — e.g. Helena Kagan, Israeli pediatrician (1889–1978).

Spellings & nicknames

About 1,200 girls a year are given Lena as their full name.

Similar names: Helen · Lena · Eliza · Selena · Flora · Leona

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

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