Helen (given name)

Helen is a feminine given name derived from the Ancient Greek name Ἑλένη Helenē (dialectal variant: Ἑλένα Helena) whose etymology is unknown; a derivation of the latter from ἑλένη, a variant form of ἑλάνη, i.e. "torch", is considered "rather uncertain". Another possible derivation is from Greek Σελήνη Selene, meaning 'moon'. Helen of Troy is a 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 enjoyed a massive burst of popularity 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 2.