Helen
From Greek Helene, a name of uncertain derivation that ancient and modern writers have linked to words for torch and for the moon. It belonged to the figure at the center of the Trojan War.
Helen in 2025
Helen was given to 668 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 936th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 4,963 babies born.
The history of Helen
Helen reached its highest point in 1918, when 36,228 babies were given the name, ranking 6th that year. Its best-ever ranking was 3rd, in 1904.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 1,027,307 babies have been named Helen. Half of them were born before 1924, which places the name's centre of gravity with the Greatest Generation.
Helen by decade
| Decade | Babies named Helen | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 11,527 | 29 |
| 1890s | 37,917 | 5 |
| 1900s | 69,675 | 3 |
| 1910s | 248,717 | 3 |
| 1920s | 291,152 | 7 |
| 1930s | 141,091 | 13 |
| 1940s | 91,076 | 39 |
| 1950s | 57,749 | 97 |
| 1960s | 29,204 | 225 |
| 1970s | 11,541 | 356 |
| 1980s | 8,449 | 523 |
| 1990s | 8,425 | 605 |
| 2000s | 8,852 | 659 |
| 2010s | 7,585 | 788 |
| 2020s | 4,347 | 819 |
Where Helen is heading
Helen has fallen 13% over the past decade, from 767 babies in 2015 to 668 in 2025.
That is less than 5% of its 1918 peak — Helen is now a rare name in the United States.
Names like Helen
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Helen.