Helen (given name)
Helen is a feminine given name derived from the Ancient Greek name Ἑλένη, Helenē (dialectal variants: Ἑλένα, Helena, Ἐλένα, Elena, Ϝελένα, Welena), which descends from Proto-Hellenic *Ηwelénā, from a pre-Hellenic or late Proto-Indo-European *Swelénā (a solar deity), ultimately derived from the Indo-European root *swel- (to shine, warm).
Eastern Orthodox icon of Saint Constantine the Great and Saint Helena, his mother. | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛlən/ |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Name day | 19 May (Certain Lutheran Churches) 21 May (Orthodox, Anglican & Lutheran Churches) 18 August (Roman Catholic Church) |
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Ancient Greek |
| Meaning | 'shining', 'warming' (originally the name of a solar deity) |
| Region of origin | Ancient Greece |
| Other names | |
| Nickname(s) | Lena, Lenie, Elle, El, Ellie, Hela, Heli |
| Related names | Elaina, Ellyn, Elaine, Elayne, Elen, Elene, Ellen, Elena, Eleni, Elin, Helena, Helene, Helaine, Ilona, Yelena |
| Popularity | see popular names |
Helen is a feminine name of Greek origin that means "torch" or "light." It can also mean "shining" or "warming." Helen was originally the name of a solar deity. Helen is associated with the phrase "the face that launched a thousand ships."
Helen, worshipped as a goddess in Laconia and Rhodes, is a major character in Greek mythology. The name was widely used by early Christians due to Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine I, who according to legend found a piece of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified when she traveled to Jerusalem. Helen was very popular in the United States during the first half of the 20th century, when it was one of the top ten names for baby girls, but became less common following World War II.