Helen Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Helen is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Helen?
Helen is spelled H-E-L-E-N. The name has 5 letters.
Helen at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Helen is commonly understood to mean “torch” or “light.”
- Origin
- Helen is a name of Greek origin, frequently linked to ancient Greek mythology and literature.
- Pronunciation
- HEL-en · 2 syllables
Helen Popularity in 2025
Rank#461
Recorded Births668
- Girls usage fell 36 places to #461 and recorded 60 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Helen Mean?
Helen is commonly understood to mean “torch” or “light.”
Origin: Helen is a name of Greek origin, frequently linked to ancient Greek mythology and literature.
How Do You Pronounce Helen?
PronunciationHEL-en
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Helen?
- History
- The name Helen appears in classical Greek texts and has been used in various cultures since antiquity.
Helen Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 668 | #461 |
| 2024 | Girls | 728 | #425 |
| 2023 | Girls | 777 | #395 |
| 2022 | Girls | 749 | #422 |
| 2021 | Girls | 704 | #443 |
| 2020 | Girls | 721 | #426 |
| 2019 | Girls | 743 | #428 |
| 2018 | Girls | 745 | #415 |
| 2017 | Girls | 764 | #418 |
| 2016 | Girls | 816 | #409 |
| 2015 | Girls | 767 | #419 |
| 2014 | Girls | 802 | #403 |
| 2013 | Girls | 740 | #411 |
| 2012 | Girls | 772 | #403 |
| 2011 | Girls | 731 | #429 |
| 2010 | Girls | 705 | #436 |
| 2009 | Girls | 826 | #388 |
| 2008 | Girls | 885 | #368 |
| 2007 | Girls | 932 | #349 |
| 2006 | Girls | 949 | #348 |
| 2005 | Girls | 961 | #333 |
| 2004 | Girls | 861 | #364 |
| 2004 | Boys | 5 | #11,356 |
| 2003 | Girls | 783 | #392 |
When Was Helen Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Girls
36,148 recorded births
National rank #2
1920 · Girls
35,097 recorded births
National rank #3
1921 · Girls
34,822 recorded births
National rank #3
1917 · Girls
34,251 recorded births
National rank #2
Where Helen Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #73 | 9 |
| VA | #204 | 40 |
| MD | #253 | 20 |
| SC | #278 | 18 |
| KS | #286 | 11 |
| MA | #313 | 18 |
| IL | #356 | 29 |
| TN | #364 | 22 |