This variant of Helen is used across Europe, in France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and it's native Hungary. Reminiscent of Elena, Leona, Ilaria, Fiona and Lola, it nevertheless remains a rarity in the US.

Eliana and her spelling variations are multicultural favorites that have been rising across the English-speaking world since the turn of the 21st century. Popular in Netherlands, the UK, Canada, France, and Brazil, Eliana and sisters come with in-built nicknames Ellie, Elle and Ana which makes them versatile and appealing

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.

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

Lele is a charming feminine name with multicultural origins. In Chinese, it means "joy" or "happiness," while in Hawaiian, it can refer to a flying fish or represent a gentle waterfall sound. The name also appears in African languages, particularly in South Africa. Lele has gained popularity as a nickname for names like Lelani or Leila, though it increasingly stands on its own. Its repetitive, melodic quality makes it appealing for parents seeking something short, sweet, and internationally accessible. The name's popularity has increased slightly with the rise of social media, where its playful sound resonates well. Lele projects cheerfulness, simplicity, and a bright spirit.

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.

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

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.

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

A trendy and fashionable-sounding Romanian name with rich history. There was a mythical Romanian princess with the name, and it was also a name used by real-life Romanian royalty.

A trendy and fashionable-sounding Romanian name with rich history. There was a mythical Romanian princess with the name, and it was also a name used by real-life Romanian royalty.

One of the many international variations of the classic Helen.

This sweet Polish & Belarusian form of Galina has a serene meaning and comes with the cute nickname Hallie. Very usable internationally even outside of the Slavic countries.

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

Laina owes is popularity not to mother name Elaine but to the much-more-popular Lainey, a fixture in the US Top 100 and still rising. Laina was used for about 100 baby girls last year.

One of many international versions of this classic.

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

Lelya is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Leila or Layla, names with Arabic origins meaning 'night' or 'dark beauty.' Alternatively, it could be related to the Russian diminutive of Elena (Lelya) or have connections to similar-sounding names in various cultures. The name has a delicate, flowing quality with its soft consonants and open vowel sounds. While never achieving widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, Lelya has a cross-cultural appeal with its simple, melodic structure. The name's brevity and ease of pronunciation make it accessible across language barriers, while its relative rarity offers a sense of uniqueness without seeming invented or difficult to recognize.