International Variations of Helen
- Elaina
Origin:
Variation of Elaine or Elena,"bright, shining light"Meaning:
"bright, shining light"Description:
Both Elaine and Elena are on an upward trajectory, which means that Elaina, a combination of the two, is popular too.
- Yelena
Origin:
Russian variation of HelenMeaning:
"bright, shining one"Description:
One of many international versions of this classic.
- Olena
Origin:
UkrainianMeaning:
"torch; shining light"Description:
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.
- Aili
Origin:
Finnish and Sami variation of Helga, diminutive of Aileen, Anglicization of EilidhMeaning:
"holy, blessed; bright and shining light"Description:
An attractive Scandinavian take on Helga, or a potential Helen nickname.
- Galina
Origin:
Russian and Slavic feminine form of Galen, GreekMeaning:
"calm, healer"Description:
Commonly used in Russia, has an Old World Slavic feel. The original Galen can be used for girls as well as boys.
- Leena
Origin:
Finnish and Estonian diminutive of names ending in -leena or -lenaDescription:
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.
- Ilona
Origin:
Hungarian variation of HelenDescription:
Ilona has never been used much in the U.S. and is not a likely candidate for success.
- Ena
Origin:
Diminutive of several namesDescription:
Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.
- Ilene
Origin:
Greek variation of HelenDescription:
Ilene might be a phonetic way to spell Aileen or Eileen, though in the end people may have more luck pronouncing the original.
- Jelena
Origin:
Russian, Serbian, Croatian, EstonianMeaning:
"light"Description:
A pretty international form of Helena used in many Slavic languages, also sometimes spelled Yelena.
- Laina
- Nelya
Origin:
English, diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et al: "bright, shining one"Meaning:
"bright, shining one"
- Elianna
Origin:
Variation of Eliana, HebrewMeaning:
"my God has answered"Description:
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.
- Ileana
- Ileana
- Alyona
Origin:
Diminutive of Yelena, RussianMeaning:
"bright and shining light"Description:
New name in the pool of international names, added by lovely supermodel Alyona Osmanova.
- Galena
Origin:
feminine of GalenMeaning:
"calm"Description:
Galena is the feminine of the Galen, which means calm. Galena is also a mineral-related name, a type of lead.
- Ilka
Origin:
Hungarian, diminutive of Ilona; variation of HelenMeaning:
"bright, shining one"Description:
To some, may have the same warm feeling of Russian nicknames like Sasha and Misha.
- Halina
- Elya
Origin:
Slavic form of HelenDescription:
A Slavic variation of Helen that might make an unusual update of that classic name.