Helen
Helen is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Torch, ray of light, or shining light.
Origin and history
Helen is a classic name of Greek origin traditionally meaning 'torch' or 'shining light'. While historically used almost exclusively for females, U.S. birth records show thousands of instances where it was given as a male name, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is rarely given to boys in modern times.
Popularity in the United States
3,105 babies in the United States have been named Helen since 1880. It ranks #2314 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- NY (27.2 %)
- PA (25.7 %)
- OH (8.2 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- TX (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 31 |
| 1890-1900 | 115 |
| 1900-1910 | 247 |
| 1910-1920 | 563 |
| 1920-1930 | 748 |
| 1930-1940 | 665 |
| 1940-1950 | 334 |
| 1950-1960 | 169 |
| 1960-1970 | 105 |
| 1970-1980 | 65 |
| 1980-1990 | 36 |
| 1990-2000 | 22 |
| 2000-2010 | 5 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Hel, Lena
Fun facts
- Over 3,000 males in the U.S. have been named Helen since 1880, primarily before 1950.
- Derived from the Ancient Greek 'Helene', associated with light and brightness.