Hellen
Hellen was the 1800th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 112 babies. Its best year was 1924, when it ranked 510th with 195 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 528 places. More babies were named Hellen in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Helen) Origin uncertain · Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #1,800 girls, up 404 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 112girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1924195 babies
- Total since 1880
- 8,353babies recorded
What does the name Hellen mean?
Hellen is a spelling of Helen, pronounced the same way, so it shares Helen's meaning and origin.
Helen is the English form of Greek Helenē, the name of Helen of Troy in Homer's Iliad. DMNES states the ultimate root is uncertain. Explanations from Greek helenē, "torch", or from the root of helios, "sun", are often repeated but not established. Christian use came from Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine.
Ἑλένη (Ancient Greek, “Helen (root uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES calls the root uncertain.
Other explanations you may read: means 'torch' or 'light'.
Related names: Helena, Ellen, Elena, Elaine, Eleni.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Helen', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ellen', DMNES, Durham University
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Helen', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Hellen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,800 | 112 |
| 2020 | #2,204 | 82 |
| 2010 | #3,332 | 49 |
| 2000 | #3,612 | 36 |
| 1990 | #5,132 | 18 |
| 1980 | #3,893 | 20 |
| 1970 | #3,146 | 21 |
| 1960 | #1,905 | 36 |
| 1950 | #1,167 | 63 |
| 1940 | #709 | 97 |
| 1930 | #567 | 144 |
| 1920 | #536 | 175 |
| 1910 | #545 | 56 |
| 1900 | #897 | 18 |
| 1890 | #896 | 10 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Hellen, counting every spelling?
Hellen is a spelling of Helen, a name family that ranked #420 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,800 for Hellen on its own. Together these spellings went to 780 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen | 668 | #462 | 3,626 |
| Hellen | 112 | #1,800 | 543 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Hellen?
112 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Hellen (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Hellen 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 75 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Hellen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Hellen?
About 3,800 people born in the US named Hellen are alive today, with a median age of 30; half are between 10 and 72. That makes Hellen mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
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.
Hellen by state
How common Hellen was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Maryland (2.8×), Texas (1.8×), Florida (1.8×). In 39 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 Hellen: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Hellen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Hellen
What does Hellen mean?
The origin of Helen is uncertain: DMNES calls the root uncertain.
How popular is the name Hellen?
Hellen was the 1800th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 112 babies. Its best year was 1924, when it ranked 510th with 195 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 528 places. More babies were named Hellen in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Hellen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Hellen in the US.
Where is Hellen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Hellen was most common in Maryland (0.19 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and Florida.