The name Helen is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "shining light, torch".

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The classic Helen is typically used for girls, connected as it is to Helen of Troy, often described as the most beautiful woman in Greece and the Ancient World. However, it has in fact featured in the US Top 1000 in the early 20th century, peaking in 1927, when it was given to more than 90 boys.  Given to more than 700 girls in a recent year, it last appeared in the stats for boys back in 2004, when it was given to 5. 

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Helen

Greek

The name Helen peaked for boys at #357 in 1903. Helen is also used for girls, ranking #462 in 2025.

The name Helen is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "torch; shining light".

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Helen is a name that has connoted beauty since ancient times – Helen of Troy was the the mythological "face that launched a thousand ships," over whom the ten-year Trojan War was fought. 
 

The name Helen has moved in and out of favor over the centuries, often alternating with Ellen. It was a Top 5 name for several decades of the early twentieth century, falling out of the Top 100 in the 50s. Now, after being unfashionable for decades, we see signs of a comeback for Helen—it's the kind of serious, unadorned classic many parents are returning to.
But if Helen still feels too plain for you, you might consider one of its many lovely variants: Helena, Elena, Eleni, Ella, Nellie or Nell, to name just a few.

 In Greek myth, Helen is the daughter of Leda and Zeus, who came to her mother in the form of a swan. Helen also has legions of real-life namesakes, including author and activist Helen Keller, politician Helen Gahaghan Douglas, newspaper reporter Helen Thomas, Cosmo force Helen Gurley Brown, Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding, artist Helen Frankenthaler, and actresses Hayes, Mirren, and Hunt. Beatrix Potter's birth name was Helen.

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The name Helen is currently ranked #462 in U.S. births. and peaked for girls at #2 in 1910. The name is most popular in HELEN, HELEN, and HELEN. Helen is occasionally used for boys in 2004.

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