Helena

Latinate form of Helen, Greek
"torch; shining light"

Helena Origin and Meaning

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

Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since then it's been drifting lazily up the charts, and makes a perfect choice if you want a name that both fits in and stands out.

An airier and more elegant version of Helen, Helena was a favorite of Shakespeare, who used it in both All's Well That Ends Well and A Midsummer's Night Dream.

Historically, Helena was the mother of Constantine the Great (and, supposedly, the daughter of Old King Cole), who became a fourth century saint--Evelyn Waugh wrote his only historical novel, Helena, based on her story.

British star Helena Bonham Carter and Danish model Helena Christensen have done much to keep the name alive, and it is also remembered via beauty mogul Helena Rubinstein. Helena is also the title of a song by the group My Chemical Romance.

Helena is a recommended girls' name for those who find the classic version a bit bland.

HELL-ehn-a is the best modern pronunciation for Helena, but hell-AYN-a or even hell-EEN-a work too.

# 456 in the US

Helena Rank in US Top 1000

# 153 on Nameberry

Helena Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Helena Popularity

Famous People Named Helena

  • Saint Helena (born Flavia Iulia Helena Augusta)
    Consort of Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and mother of Constantine the Great
  • Helena Augusta Victoria; Princess of the U.K.
    Princess Christian of Schleswig,Holstein, daughter of Queen Victoria
  • Helena Victoria (Victoria Louise Sophia Augusta Amelia Helena)
    Princess of Schleswig,Holstein, granddaughter of Queen Victoria
  • Helena
    Princess of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Helene Friederike Auguste), Duchess of Albany; daughter,in,law of Queen Victoria
  • Helena Adelaide
    Princess of Schleswig,Holstein,Sonderburg,Glücksburg (Helene Adelheid Viktoria Marie), Princess of Denmark
  • Helena of Nassau (Helene Wilhelmine Henriette Pauline Marianne von Nassau
    Weilburg), Princess consort of Waldeck and Pyrmont
  • Helena
    Princess of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Helene Bathildis Charlotte Maria Friederike), Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
  • Helena Bonham Carter
    English actress
  • Helena Devereux
    American educator
  • Helena Dow
    American Olympic fencer
  • Helena Modjeska
    Polish,American actress
  • Helena Christensen
    Danish model
  • Chaja "Helena" Rubinstein
    Polish,American beauty mogul
  • Helena Mattsson
    Swedish actress
  • Helena Suková
    Czech tennis player
  • Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
    Russian philosopher
  • Helena Ivanovna Roerich
    Russian philosopher
  • (Anni) Helena Takalo
    Finnish Olympic cross country skier
  • Helena
    queen of Adiabene in the First Century A.D.
  • Eleni "Elena/Helena" Paparizou
    Greek,Swedish singer
  • Helena Teresa Góralska
    Polish politician and economist
  • Helena Majdaniec
    Polish singer
  • Halina Poświatowska (born Helena Myga)
    Polish poet
  • Helena Pilejczyk
    Polish skater
  • Helena (born Felicja
    pseudonym Lena) Wolińska, Polish politician and communist activist
  • Helena Grace Rutherford Girsch (b. 2009)
    daughter of American actress Kelly Rutherford
  • Helena Clementine (br. 2019)
    daughter of singers Flo Morrissey and Benjamin Clementine.

Helena in Pop Culture

  • "Helena
    " song by The Misfits
  • "Helena
    " song by My Chemical Romance
  • Helena Henstridge
    the queen of England on TV's "The Royals"
  • Helena Harford
    daughter in movie "Eyes Wide Shut"
  • Helena Harper
    character in the game "Resident Evil 6"
  • Helena G. Wells
    a female version of the author H.G. Wells on TV's "Warehouse 13"
  • Helena Peabody
    character on TV's "The L Word"
  • Helena Pierce
    character in "Borderlands" video game
  • Helena Ravenclaw aka the Grey Lady
    the Ravenclaw house ghost in the Harry Potter series
  • Helena Cassadine
    character on soap "General Hospital"
  • Helena
    a clone on TV's "Orphan Black"
  • "Helena
    " novel by Evelyn Waugh
  • Helena Jane
    character in song "Hollywood's Not America" by Ferras
  • "Helena Beat"
    song by Foster the People
  • Helena
    Montana, USA
  • Helena Bertinelli
    "The Huntress" from DC Comics and TV Series "Arrow"