Hellen
Hellen is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Shining light, torch, or bright one.
Origin and history
Hellen is a spelling variant of the classical Greek name Helen or the ancient mythological figure Hellen (male ancestor of the Hellenes). In modern U.S. usage, it functions almost exclusively as a feminine variant of Helen. Though less common than the traditional single-l spelling, it maintains steady usage in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
8,353 babies in the United States have been named Hellen since 1880. It ranks #1828 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1480.
States where it is most popular
- TX (15.5 %)
- CA (9.8 %)
- NC (8.5 %)
- GA (7 %)
- SC (6.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 53 |
| 1890-1900 | 153 |
| 1900-1910 | 252 |
| 1910-1920 | 916 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,668 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,191 |
| 1940-1950 | 864 |
| 1950-1960 | 531 |
| 1960-1970 | 297 |
| 1970-1980 | 184 |
| 1980-1990 | 182 |
| 1990-2000 | 231 |
| 2000-2010 | 484 |
| 2010-2019 | 722 |
| 2020-2029 | 625 |
Nicknames
Hellie, Lena
Fun facts
- It is closely related to Helen, which stems from the Greek 'Helene', traditionally associated with light and brightness.
- In Greek mythology, Hellen (spelled identical to this name variant) was the mythical patriarch of the Hellenes, though the feminine usage derives from Helen of Troy.