How Many People Are Named Helena?
Complete statistics for the name Helena: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Helena is a classic name with Greek roots, meaning 'bright, shining light,' and it's carried by around 26,492 people living in the US today. That makes it genuinely rare, showing up in just 1 in 12,457 Americans. What's striking is that despite feeling like a timeless name, it's actually trending upward and just hit its peak in 2024.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 9 is traditionally linked to compassion, wisdom, and a deep sense of purpose. People associated with 9 are often seen as old souls who feel a calling to help others and leave the world better than they found it.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 56All 39,501 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 2024Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Helena Through the Generations
Helena has a fascinating tension in its numbers. With 39,501 all-time US births but only 26,492 estimated living bearers, a meaningful portion of everyone ever named Helena is no longer with us, which speaks to how long this name has been quietly in use. The age distribution tells a clear story: 45% of Helenas are over 60, pushing the average age up to 56, so it's carried largely by an older generation. Yet something interesting is happening at the other end, with 15,253 Helenas under 30, more than double the 6,629 in the 30-60 bracket. That middle-generation gap suggests the name fell out of fashion for a while before younger parents rediscovered it. The trend backs that up: Helena is rising, and 2024 was its biggest year ever at 754 births. It reads like a name that skipped a generation and came back stronger.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Helena
Helena is a given name. It is the Latin form of Helen. Notable people with this name include:…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Helena's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Helena
How Many People Have the Name Helena?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 397 people in the United States currently share the name Helena. That works out to roughly 1 in every 834,885 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Helena a Common or Rare Name?
Helena is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Helena Mean?
Helena means "bright, shining light" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Helena in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Helena Most Popular?
The name Helena reached peak popularity in 2024, with 754 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Helena?
Approximately 397 people named Helena live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 397. That works out to roughly 1 in 834,885 Americans.
Is Helena a rare name?
Helena is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 834,885 Americans has this name.
What does the name Helena mean?
Helena means "bright, shining light" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Helena more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Helena are male and 100% are female.
When was Helena most popular?
Helena peaked in 2024 with 754 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.