International Variations of Helen

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.

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

One of many international versions of this classic.

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

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

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

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.

Ilene might be a phonetic way to spell Aileen or Eileen, though in the end people may have more luck pronouncing the original.

Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.

A pretty international form of Helena used in many Slavic languages, also sometimes spelled Yelena.

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.

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.

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

Helisent was used in the medieval days and has royal antecedents found in both France and Germany. Information on its origins is sketchy, but some say it's related to Elise or Helen or Heloise, or that it derives from a Visigothic name meaning "temple path". Variants include Elisende, Elisenda, Elysant, Elysande, Elissent and Elisent.

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

Nel is a concise, charming feminine name with multiple origins. It can be a diminutive of names like Eleanor, Helen, Penelope, or Cornelia, giving it versatile roots across different cultures. In Welsh traditions, Nel means "shining light," while in Scandinavian contexts, it relates to "champion" or "horn." This short but sweet name has an appealing simplicity that works well internationally. Nel gained some recognition through literary characters and has a vintage charm that appeals to modern parents seeking brief, distinctive names. Its simplicity allows it to pair well with longer surnames and gives it a friendly, approachable quality rarely found in more elaborate names.

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.

A Slavic variation of Helen that might make an unusual update of that classic name.

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.