Helen
#461 for girls in 2025, 668 births · Last seen for boys in 2004 at #11,356
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1918 · 36,148 births
- Debut · girls
- 636 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 79 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 1,024,202since 1880
Helen over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #461 | 668 | — | |
| 2024 | #425 | 728 | — | |
| 2023 | #395 | 777 | — | |
| 2022 | #422 | 749 | — | |
| 2021 | #443 | 704 | — | |
| 2020 | #426 | 721 | — | |
| 2019 | #428 | 743 | — | |
| 2018 | #415 | 745 | — | |
| 2017 | #418 | 764 | — | |
| 2016 | #409 | 816 | — | |
| 2015 | #419 | 767 | — | |
| 2014 | #403 | 802 | — | |
| 2013 | #411 | 740 | — | |
| 2012 | #403 | 772 | — | |
| 2011 | #429 | 731 | — | |
| 2010 | #436 | 705 | — | |
| 2009 | #388 | 826 | — | |
| 2008 | #368 | 885 | — | |
| 2007 | #349 | 932 | — | |
| 2006 | #348 | 949 | — | |
| 2005 | #333 | 961 | — | |
| 2004 | #364 | 861 | #11,356 | 5 |
| 2003 | #392 | 783 | — | |
| 2002 | #341 | 875 | — | |
| 2001 | #344 | 884 | — | |
| 2000 | #345 | 891 | — | |
| 1999 | #356 | 841 | — | |
| 1998 | #348 | 832 | — | |
| 1997 | #345 | 812 | — | |
| 1996 | #312 | 900 | — | |
| 1995 | #325 | 837 | — | |
| 1994 | #321 | 849 | #8,800 | 5 |
| 1993 | #307 | 867 | #8,700 | 5 |
| 1992 | #326 | 828 | — | |
| 1991 | #340 | 774 | #8,236 | 5 |
| 1990 | #316 | 863 | #6,415 | 7 |
| 1989 | #305 | 858 | #4,811 | 10 |
| 1988 | #321 | 774 | #5,751 | 7 |
| 1987 | #297 | 816 | — | |
| 1986 | #311 | 766 | #5,926 | 6 |
| 1985 | #301 | 808 | #5,785 | 6 |
| 1984 | #281 | 858 | #4,973 | 7 |
| 1983 | #278 | 844 | — | |
| 1982 | #279 | 876 | — | |
| 1981 | #275 | 899 | — | |
| 1980 | #272 | 914 | — | |
| 1979 | #278 | 879 | #6,056 | 5 |
| 1978 | #255 | 925 | #5,772 | 5 |
| 1977 | #249 | 994 | #5,123 | 6 |
| 1976 | #250 | 943 | #3,724 | 9 |
| 1975 | #229 | 1,059 | #4,797 | 6 |
| 1974 | #225 | 1,140 | #4,190 | 7 |
| 1973 | #221 | 1,137 | — | |
| 1972 | #225 | 1,241 | #3,344 | 9 |
| 1971 | #209 | 1,440 | #3,370 | 9 |
| 1970 | #191 | 1,718 | #3,282 | 9 |
| 1969 | #175 | 1,858 | #2,861 | 10 |
| 1968 | #173 | 1,884 | #2,445 | 12 |
| 1967 | #158 | 2,157 | #2,985 | 8 |
| 1966 | #144 | 2,447 | #3,948 | 5 |
| 1965 | #137 | 2,800 | #2,178 | 14 |
| 1964 | #132 | 3,100 | #2,854 | 9 |
| 1963 | #124 | 3,338 | #2,858 | 9 |
| 1962 | #128 | 3,586 | #2,035 | 16 |
| 1961 | #119 | 3,858 | #2,409 | 12 |
| 1960 | #117 | 4,071 | #2,685 | 10 |
| 1959 | #108 | 4,375 | #2,111 | 15 |
| 1958 | #100 | 4,772 | #1,766 | 20 |
| 1957 | #95 | 5,019 | #2,190 | 14 |
| 1956 | #90 | 5,278 | #1,945 | 17 |
| 1955 | #78 | 5,592 | #1,791 | 19 |
| 1954 | #72 | 5,947 | #2,114 | 14 |
| 1953 | #65 | 6,123 | #1,709 | 20 |
| 1952 | #63 | 6,464 | #1,856 | 17 |
| 1951 | #54 | 6,949 | #2,055 | 14 |
| 1950 | #50 | 7,061 | #1,701 | 19 |
| 1949 | #46 | 7,707 | #1,409 | 27 |
| 1948 | #40 | 8,301 | #1,559 | 22 |
| 1947 | #38 | 8,979 | #1,519 | 24 |
| 1946 | #36 | 8,852 | #1,217 | 33 |
| 1945 | #31 | 8,301 | #1,204 | 30 |
| 1944 | #31 | 8,696 | #1,107 | 36 |
| 1943 | #28 | 9,800 | #1,106 | 38 |
| 1942 | #26 | 10,016 | #1,119 | 37 |
| 1941 | #24 | 9,887 | #905 | 49 |
| 1940 | #18 | 10,203 | #1,050 | 38 |
| 1939 | #16 | 10,420 | #931 | 45 |
| 1938 | #13 | 10,837 | #757 | 65 |
| 1937 | #12 | 11,453 | #751 | 66 |
| 1936 | #11 | 12,234 | #844 | 52 |
| 1935 | #10 | 12,785 | #750 | 67 |
| 1934 | #9 | 14,100 | #897 | 49 |
| 1933 | #8 | 14,644 | #637 | 82 |
| 1932 | #8 | 16,376 | #632 | 89 |
| 1931 | #6 | 17,664 | #756 | 67 |
| 1930 | #4 | 19,913 | #685 | 83 |
| 1929 | #4 | 20,983 | #705 | 77 |
| 1928 | #4 | 22,937 | #669 | 88 |
| 1927 | #4 | 25,316 | #662 | 92 |
| 1926 | #4 | 26,886 | #745 | 74 |
| 1925 | #4 | 29,173 | #723 | 80 |
| 1924 | #3 | 31,194 | #746 | 79 |
| 1923 | #3 | 31,486 | #860 | 62 |
| 1922 | #3 | 32,510 | #830 | 67 |
| 1921 | #3 | 34,822 | #849 | 66 |
| 1920 | #3 | 35,097 | #853 | 63 |
| 1919 | #2 | 33,706 | #850 | 60 |
| 1918 | #2 | 36,148 | #706 | 80 |
| 1917 | #2 | 34,251 | #804 | 61 |
| 1916 | #2 | 32,661 | #641 | 83 |
| 1915 | #2 | 30,866 | #776 | 60 |
| 1914 | #2 | 23,221 | #697 | 54 |
| 1913 | #2 | 18,888 | #615 | 51 |
| 1912 | #2 | 16,133 | #692 | 38 |
| 1911 | #2 | 11,801 | #426 | 46 |
| 1910 | #2 | 10,479 | #512 | 30 |
| 1909 | #2 | 9,250 | #408 | 36 |
| 1908 | #2 | 8,439 | #438 | 30 |
| 1907 | #2 | 7,579 | #540 | 20 |
| 1906 | #2 | 7,176 | #431 | 26 |
| 1905 | #2 | 6,811 | #421 | 26 |
| 1904 | #2 | 6,488 | #587 | 15 |
| 1903 | #2 | 6,129 | #357 | 29 |
| 1902 | #2 | 5,967 | #360 | 30 |
| 1901 | #2 | 5,247 | #466 | 17 |
| 1900 | #2 | 6,342 | #578 | 18 |
| 1899 | #3 | 5,048 | #481 | 16 |
| 1898 | #3 | 5,230 | #505 | 17 |
| 1897 | #3 | 4,519 | #495 | 16 |
| 1896 | #3 | 4,392 | #722 | 10 |
| 1895 | #3 | 4,023 | #491 | 17 |
| 1894 | #4 | 3,676 | #787 | 8 |
| 1893 | #6 | 3,249 | #768 | 8 |
| 1892 | #9 | 2,936 | #861 | 7 |
| 1891 | #9 | 2,417 | #635 | 9 |
| 1890 | #12 | 2,312 | #814 | 7 |
| 1889 | #17 | 1,909 | #722 | 8 |
| 1888 | #16 | 1,847 | #1,031 | 5 |
| 1887 | #21 | 1,405 | — | |
| 1886 | #25 | 1,267 | — | |
| 1885 | #28 | 1,134 | #836 | 6 |
| 1884 | #33 | 986 | — | |
| 1883 | #35 | 862 | #892 | 5 |
| 1882 | #31 | 838 | — | |
| 1881 | #43 | 612 | #706 | 7 |
| 1880 | #35 | 636 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Helen was already there! It came in at #35, and was given to 636 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 870 girls a year got the name.
Where Helen is popular in 1940
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Alaska#5 · 1 in 31
- Arizona#8 · 1 in 67
- New Mexico#8 · 1 in 73
- Louisiana#10 · 1 in 98
- Arkansas#12 · 1 in 78
Best ever in a state: #1 in Washington, 1910.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #5 | 12 | 1 in 31 |
| Arizona | #8 | 72 | 1 in 67 |
| New Mexico | #8 | 80 | 1 in 73 |
| Louisiana | #10 | 239 | 1 in 98 |
| Arkansas | #12 | 245 | 1 in 78 |
| Maryland | #13 | 170 | 1 in 76 |
| Mississippi | #13 | 230 | 1 in 98 |
| Virginia | #13 | 315 | 1 in 78 |
| South Carolina | #14 | 271 | 1 in 81 |
| Tennessee | #15 | 353 | 1 in 80 |
| West Virginia | #15 | 240 | 1 in 79 |
| Georgia | #16 | 325 | 1 in 98 |
| Kentucky | #16 | 337 | 1 in 85 |
| North Carolina | #17 | 447 | 1 in 84 |
| District of Columbia | #18 | 73 | 1 in 84 |
| Florida | #18 | 145 | 1 in 102 |
| New York | #18 | 908 | 1 in 99 |
| Alabama | #19 | 281 | 1 in 105 |
| Pennsylvania | #19 | 812 | 1 in 92 |
| Hawaii | #20 | 37 | 1 in 91 |
| Montana | #20 | 52 | 1 in 82 |
| New Jersey | #20 | 263 | 1 in 98 |
| Texas | #20 | 526 | 1 in 114 |
| Missouri | #21 | 300 | 1 in 93 |
| Oklahoma | #21 | 207 | 1 in 97 |
| Idaho | #22 | 50 | 1 in 85 |
| Wyoming | #22 | 19 | 1 in 87 |
| Massachusetts | #25 | 272 | 1 in 108 |
| Colorado | #26 | 87 | 1 in 104 |
| Kansas | #26 | 103 | 1 in 119 |
| Utah | #26 | 46 | 1 in 109 |
| Delaware | #27 | 18 | 1 in 89 |
| Rhode Island | #27 | 44 | 1 in 103 |
| Ohio | #28 | 439 | 1 in 120 |
| California | #30 | 339 | 1 in 147 |
| Illinois | #30 | 424 | 1 in 133 |
| Connecticut | #31 | 81 | 1 in 131 |
| Nebraska | #31 | 73 | 1 in 127 |
| Oregon | #31 | 58 | 1 in 123 |
| Iowa | #32 | 136 | 1 in 145 |
| Michigan | #32 | 311 | 1 in 141 |
| Indiana | #33 | 181 | 1 in 148 |
| South Dakota | #33 | 35 | 1 in 135 |
| Washington | #33 | 74 | 1 in 156 |
| Wisconsin | #33 | 176 | 1 in 137 |
| Vermont | #34 | 21 | 1 in 120 |
| New Hampshire | #35 | 30 | 1 in 111 |
| Minnesota | #37 | 165 | 1 in 138 |
| Maine | #41 | 43 | 1 in 143 |
| Nevada | #42 | 5 | 1 in 105 |
| North Dakota | #43 | 33 | 1 in 161 |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Helen
- 36 spots since 2024 (#425 → #461)
- 35 spots since 2020 (#426 → #461)
- 42 spots since 2015 (#419 → #461)
- Biggest jump: 31 spots in 2005 (#364 → #333)
- Biggest drop: 51 spots in 2003 (#341 → #392)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1918 at #2 (36,148 births)
- Births halved by 1931, 13 yrs later
- Top 10: 45 yrs · run 1891–1935
- Top 100: 79 yrs · run 1880–1958
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 32 girls born in 1917 were named Helen (3.2%)
- Latest: 1 in 2,406 girls born in 2025 (0.04%)
- Its best rank, #2 in 1918, was only 1 in 32 (3.1%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 28.4% of all girls named Helen (290,404) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 11,496 | #16 (1888) | #28 |
| 1890s | 37,802 | #3 (1898) | #6 |
| 1900s | 69,428 | #2 (1909) | #2 |
| 1910s | 248,154 | #2 (1918) | #2 |
| 1920s | 290,404 | #3 (1920) | #4 |
| 1930s | 140,426 | #4 (1930) | #10 |
| 1940s | 90,742 | #18 (1940) | #32 |
| 1950s | 57,580 | #50 (1950) | #78 |
| 1960s | 29,099 | #117 (1960) | #141 |
| 1970s | 11,476 | #191 (1970) | #233 |
| 1980s | 8,413 | #272 (1980) | #292 |
| 1990s | 8,403 | #307 (1993) | #330 |
| 2000s | 8,847 | #333 (2005) | #357 |
| 2010s | 7,585 | #403 (2014) | #417 |
| 2020s | 4,347 | #395 (2023) | #429 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Helen in 1940
Top girls' names in 1940
Top boys' names in 1940
More about 1940
girls
1,143,528 girls got a published name in 1940; 1 in 112 of them was named Helen, which outranked 99.6% of the 5,028 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,159,172 boys got a published name in 1940; 1 in 30,505 of them was named Helen, which outranked 73.3% of the 3,937 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,031Oran39
- #1,031Rolf39
- #1,031Theodis39
- #1,050Helen38
- #1,050Adan38
- #1,050Curt38
- #1,050Erich38
- #1,067Allie37
- #1,067Arley37
- #1,067Barrett37
Tied with 16 names at #1,050; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.