Helene Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Helene originates from Greek, meaning 'light' or 'torch', and has a rich linguistic history with variations including Helena and Elena. It is associated with traits of elegance and sophistication, with no specific biblical relevance. The name has gained popularity since the 19th century and remains a classic choice today.
The name Helene is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Helene has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Helene' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 264th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 304th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 427th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 976th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2262nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3449th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4274th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Helene' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Helene"
Pronunciation
/həˈliːn/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Helene is derived from the Greek name 'Helene', which is thought to be related to the word 'helene' meaning 'torch' or 'light'. It has also been associated with 'Selene', the Greek goddess of the moon.
Meaning
light, torch
Language Evolution
Helene (Ancient Greek), Elena (Italian, Spanish), Helena (Latin), Eleanor (Old French)
Historical Usage
The name Helene gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in France and among European aristocracy. Its variations have been used in various cultures throughout history.
Variants & Derivatives
Helena, Elena, Helen, Lena
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Helene is perceived as a classic and elegant name, often associated with sophistication and grace.
Famous People
Helene Fischer (German singer), Helene Grimaud (French pianist), Helene Boucher (French aviator)
Explore More Helene Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Helene"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Helene"
"Helene" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 264th of 9107 | 11,122 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 304th of 9204 | 8,181 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 427th of 12526 | 8,754 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 976th of 19264 | 2,072 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2262nd of 27321 | 839 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3449th of 35406 | 693 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4274th of 30306 | 403 |
Regional Popularity of "Helene" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Helene" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
15.18% 215th/1416 |
11.75% 162nd/1379 |
26.88% 636th/2366 |
21.54% 246th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
22.83% 353rd/1546 |
9.90% 154th/1556 |
34.00% 800th/2353 |
22.56% 349th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
24.20% 539th/2227 |
8.93% 217th/2430 |
30.14% 860th/2853 |
20.32% 564th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
44.26% 1300th/2937 |
15.19% 529th/3483 |
52.42% 1844th/3518 |
30.91% 1250th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
28.67% 1283rd/4475 |
- |
34.54% 2182nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
88.26% 4044th/4582 |
48.78% 2519th/5164 |
63.09% 4614th/7313 |
39.45% 2944th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
88.13% 3511th/3984 |
68.11% 3056th/4487 |
- |
65.34% 4101st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Helene"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Helene" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.