Helena
Latinate form of Helen, Greek
"torch; shining light"Share
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Updated Thu Apr 18 2024
Helena Origin and Meaning
The name Helena is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "torch; shining light".
Helena is a more delicate and dainty version of Helen, 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.
# 473 in the US
Helena Rank in US Top 1000
# 149 on Nameberry
Helena Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Helena Popularity
- 473US2022
- 149Nameberry2024
- 463Future2028
- 328England2021
- 47Germany2023
- 165Netherlands2015
- 87Spain2022
- 40Portugal2020
- 1Brazil2023
- 42Iceland2018
- 69Belgium2022
- 90Switzerland2022
- 24Austria2022
- 20Poland2023
- 73Chile2021
- 39Croatia2022
- 198Mexico2021
20 Names Similar to Helena
These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Helena.
Helen Daphne Diana Theodora Josephine Florence Edith Cordelia Felicity Louisa Beatrice Juliet Athena Catherine Cecilia Eleanor Margaret Elena Beatrix Celeste
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
- HelenaPrincess of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Helene Friederike Auguste), Duchess of Albany; daughter,in,law of Queen Victoria
- Helena AdelaidePrincess of Schleswig,Holstein,Sonderburg,Glücksburg (Helene Adelheid Viktoria Marie), Princess of Denmark
- Helena of Nassau (Helene Wilhelmine Henriette Pauline Marianne von NassauWeilburg), Princess consort of Waldeck and Pyrmont
- HelenaPrincess of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Helene Bathildis Charlotte Maria Friederike), Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
- Helena Bonham CarterEnglish actress
- Helena DevereuxAmerican educator
- Helena DowAmerican Olympic fencer
- Helena ModjeskaPolish,American actress
- Helena ChristensenDanish model
- Chaja "Helena" RubinsteinPolish,American beauty mogul
- Helena MattssonSwedish actress
- Helena SukováCzech tennis player
- Helena Petrovna BlavatskyRussian philosopher
- Helena Ivanovna RoerichRussian philosopher
- (Anni) Helena TakaloFinnish Olympic cross country skier
- Helenaqueen of Adiabene in the First Century A.D.
- Eleni "Elena/Helena" PaparizouGreek,Swedish singer
- Helena Teresa GóralskaPolish politician and economist
- Helena MajdaniecPolish singer
- Halina Poświatowska (born Helena Myga)Polish poet
- Helena PilejczykPolish skater
- Helena (born Felicjapseudonym 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 Henstridgethe queen of England on TV's "The Royals"
- Helena Harforddaughter in movie "Eyes Wide Shut"
- Helena Harpercharacter in the game "Resident Evil 6"
- Helena G. Wellsa female version of the author H.G. Wells on TV's "Warehouse 13"
- Helena Peabodycharacter on TV's "The L Word"
- Helena Piercecharacter in "Borderlands" video game
- Helena Ravenclaw aka the Grey Ladythe Ravenclaw house ghost in the Harry Potter series
- Helena Cassadinecharacter on soap "General Hospital"
- Helenaa clone on TV's "Orphan Black"
- "Helena" novel by Evelyn Waugh
- Helena Janecharacter in song "Hollywood's Not America" by Ferras
- "Helena Beat"song by Foster the People
- HelenaMontana, USA
- Helena Bertinelli"The Huntress" from DC Comics and TV Series "Arrow"