| Helen | Chloe | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Torch, light | Green shoot; blooming |
| Origin | Greek | greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | HEL-un | KLOH-ee |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1918 (36,148) | 2009 (11,922) |
| In 2025 | 668 | 6,203 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Helen | Chloe |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 4,347 | 37,588 |
| 2010s | 7,585 | 85,316 |
| 2000s | 8,847 | 96,503 |
| 1990s | 8,403 | 25,858 |
| 1980s | 8,413 | 3,605 |
| 1970s | 11,476 | 645 |
| 1960s | 29,099 | 204 |
| 1950s | 57,580 | 296 |
| 1940s | 90,742 | 543 |
| 1930s | 140,426 | 778 |
| 1920s | 290,404 | 746 |
| 1910s | 248,154 | 850 |
| 1900s | 69,428 | 478 |
| 1890s | 37,802 | 622 |
| 1880s | 11,496 | 357 |
Helen comes from Greek and is traditionally linked to “torch” or “light,” from a root meaning “shining.” Helen of Troy was, in Homer, the face “that launched a thousand ships.”
From Greek 'chloe' (Χλόη) meaning 'green shoot, young growth of a plant'. It was an epithet of the harvest goddess Demeter marking the fresh green of spring.
Chloe is more popular than Helen today: about 6,203 US babies were given the name Chloe in 2025, compared with 668 named Helen.
Helen means Torch, light (Greek origin), while Chloe means Green shoot; blooming (greek origin).
In US records, Helen first appears in 1880 and Chloe in 1880, so Helen has the longer recorded history.