Helen \he-len\ as a girl's name is pronounced HEL-en. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Helen is "sun ray, shining light". Mythology: the abduction of Zeus's mortal daughter, Helen of Troy, resulted in the Trojan War. Hers was "the face that launched a thousand ships". There was a Saint Helena, mother to Constantine the Great, whose purity allowed her to discover the True Cross. Helene (hel-LANE) is a French form; Halina is Polish; Eilidh is Scottish Gaelic. See also Alanna. Writer Helen Keller; actresses Helen Hayes, Helen Hunt, Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham-Carter; publisher Helen Gurley Brown; singer Helen Reddy.

Helen has 78 variant forms: Aileen, Ailene, Aleanor, Alene, Aline, Eileen, Eilidh, Elaina, Elaine, Elana, Elayne, Eleanor, Eleanore, Elena, Eleni, Elenora, Elenore, Eleonora, Elianora, Elinor, Ella, Elladine, Elleanora, Elle, Ellee, Ellen, Ellenora, Ellette, Ellie, Ellin, Elliner, Ellinor, Elly, Ellyn, Elnora, Galina, Halina, Helaina, Helaine, Helana, Heleanor, Heleena, Helenore, Helena, Helene, Helenann, Helenna, Helene, Helia, Hella, Hellen, Hellena, Hellene, Hellenor, Hellia, Ileana, Ilene, Ilona, Jelena, Lana, Leanora, Lena, Lenore, Leonara, Leonora, Leonore, Leora, Lienor, Lina, Nelda, Nell, Nellette, Nelliana, Nellie, Nelly, Nonnie, Nora and Yelena.

For more information, see also related names Aibhlin, Alana, Alena, Alina, Elen, Leanna, Olena and Yalena.

A baby name that sounds like Helen is Hollyann.