Helene
Helene was the 3602nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 42 babies. Its best year was 1916, when it ranked 227th; the most babies were born in 1918 (728). Over the last ten years it has moved up 125 places. More babies were named Helene in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · French, German, Greek
Say it heh-LEEN /həˈlin/
- Rank in 2025
- #3,602 girls, up 353 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 42girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1918728 babies
- Total since 1880
- 33,334babies recorded
What does the name Helene mean?
Helene is the German and Scandinavian form of Helen (French Hélène), from the Greek Helénē, the name of Helen of Troy in legend. The meaning of the Greek name is not known; a popular link with the Greek word for "torch" is not established. Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, spread the name among Christians. Helene was most common in the US in the 1910s and 1920s.
Ἑλένη (Ancient Greek, “Helénē, meaning unknown”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The Greek name Helénē is of unknown origin.
Other explanations you may read: Helen means 'torch' or 'light' (Greek helanē, selēnē).
Related names: Helen, Hélène, Helena, Elaine, Ellen.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Helene', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Helen', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Helene (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Helene popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,602 | 42 |
| 2020 | #3,955 | 36 |
| 2010 | #4,056 | 37 |
| 2000 | #4,331 | 28 |
| 1990 | #2,382 | 52 |
| 1980 | #1,557 | 75 |
| 1970 | #944 | 135 |
| 1960 | #467 | 432 |
| 1950 | #349 | 508 |
| 1940 | #302 | 429 |
| 1930 | #272 | 550 |
| 1920 | #252 | 680 |
| 1910 | #255 | 226 |
| 1900 | #277 | 138 |
| 1890 | #339 | 57 |
| 1880 | #412 | 17 |
How popular is Helene, counting every spelling?
Helene has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Helene?
42 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Helene (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Helene born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 200 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Helene.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Helene?
About 13,000 people born in the US named Helene are alive today, with a median age of 69; half are between 59 and 78. That makes Helene a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Helene by state
How common Helene was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Helene: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Helene, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Helene · Sibling names for Helene
Questions about the name Helene
What does Helene mean?
The origin of Helene is uncertain: the Greek name Helénē is of unknown origin.
How popular is the name Helene?
Helene was the 3602nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 42 babies. Its best year was 1916, when it ranked 227th; the most babies were born in 1918 (728). Over the last ten years it has moved up 125 places. More babies were named Helene in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Helene a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Helene in the US.
Where is Helene most popular?
In 2021–2025, Helene was most common in New York (0.01 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and California.