Hélène
How to say it: ay-LEN · /eˈlɛn/
French form of Greek Helen meaning 'torch, shining light' - enduring classic from myth to royalty.
Hélène was the 392nd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 42 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1910s, its births are down about 7% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #387 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #392 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 42 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,033 |
| Peak decade | 1910s |
| Change over 10 years | −7% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #387 |
| In France, 2025 | #294 among girls’ names, 180 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Hélène peaked in the 1910s.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Lena
- Lène
Honouring a Hélène in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Hélène is about 1 in 169.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #294 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Hélène
- Hélène Cixous (born 1937)French philosopher and writer
- Hélène Grimaud (born 1969)French pianist
- Hélène Ségara (born 1971)French singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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