Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Helen” come from?

Helen comes from French Hélène, from Latin Helena, from Ancient Greek Ἑλένη, ultimately of uncertain origin within Ancient Greek.

Helen (English): Any of various papilionid butterflies of the...

Definitions

  1. Any of various papilionid butterflies of the...

Ancestry of “Helen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchHélène—
2LatinHelena—
3Ancient Greekἑλένηtorch, firebrand; corposant, St. Elmo's fire;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswel-to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...

Words derived from “Helen”

  • Ellen
  • Ella
  • millihelen
  • Ellen
  • Ellen
  • Ellen
  • Ella
  • Helen
  • Ellá
  • Elle
  • ʻElena
  • Helena
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swel- →