International Variations of Helen

Alena is a modern variant of Helen. Alena might also be a spelling twist on the Slavic Alina or a long form of Lena.

One of many international versions of this classic.

Commonly used in Russia, has an Old World Slavic feel. The original Galen can be used for girls as well as boys.

Ilona has never been used much in the U.S. and is not a likely candidate for success.

Leena is the form of Lena found in Finland and Estonia. It sits just outside the Top 1000 in the US, where it may be used as a Lena alternative that avoids pronunciation confusion.

Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.

This chic Ukrainian form of Helen is relatively unknown outside of its native country, but it definitely has international appeal. Olia or Olenka are the usual Ukrainian diminutives, but tomboyish Oli or Leni could work too.

An attractive Scandinavian take on Helga, or a potential Helen nickname.

Elianna and the even more popular Eliana are multicultural favorites that have been rising through the US Top 1000 since the turn of the century.

Ilene might be a phonetic way to spell Aileen or Eileen, though in the end people may have more luck pronouncing the original.

A pretty international form of Helena used in many Slavic languages, also sometimes spelled Yelena.

A Slavic variation of Helen that might make an unusual update of that classic name.

To some, may have the same warm feeling of Russian nicknames like Sasha and Misha.

New name in the pool of international names, added by lovely supermodel Alyona Osmanova.

Helisent was used in the medieval days and has royal antecedents found in both France and Germany. Information on its origins is sketchy, but some say it's related to Elise or Helen or Heloise, or that it derives from a Visigothic name meaning "temple path". Variants include Elisende, Elisenda, Elysant, Elysande, Elissent and Elisent.

Galena is the feminine of the Galen, which means calm. Galena is also a mineral-related name, a type of lead.