Helena (English)
Where does "Helena" come from?
The English given name 'Helena' is a Latinate form of Helen, borrowed from Latin 'Helena'[1]. The Latin form traces back to Ancient Greek 'Ἑλένη'[2]. This Greek name most likely derives from Proto-Hellenic '*Ηwelénā', stemming from a pre-Hellenic or late Proto-Indo-European '*Swelénā' connected to a solar deity, and ultimately originates from Proto-Indo-European '*swel-' meaning to shine, warm, smoulder, or burn[3].
Open questions
- The derivation from Proto-Hellenic and late Proto-Indo-European forms relating to a solar deity is reconstructed and uncertain. [3]
Full etymology tree
- Helena (English), 'A female given name from Ancient Greek.'
- borrowed Helena (Latin), 'Helen'
- derived Ἑλένη (Helénē) (Ancient Greek), 'Helen, a goddess worshipped in Laconia and Rhodes.'
- inherited *Ηwelénā (Proto-Hellenic)
- inherited *Swelénā (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *swel- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *Swelénā (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *Ηwelénā (Proto-Hellenic)
- derived Ἑλένη (Helénē) (Ancient Greek), 'Helen, a goddess worshipped in Laconia and Rhodes.'
- borrowed Helena (Latin), 'Helen'
Ancestors
- Helena (Latin)
Descendants and derived words
- Helena-West Helena (English)
- McRae-Helena (English)
- Mount Helena (English)
- Saint Helena (English)
- St Helena (English)
- St. Helena (English)
Related words
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris