| Helen | Michelle | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Torch, light | — |
| Origin | Greek | — |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | HEL-un | — |
| Syllables | 2 | — |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 1918 (36,148) | 1969 (34,319) |
| In 2025 | 668 | 661 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Helen | Michelle |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 4,347 | 4,751 |
| 2010s | 7,585 | 17,358 |
| 2000s | 8,847 | 43,540 |
| 1990s | 8,403 | 86,532 |
| 1980s | 8,413 | 154,027 |
| 1970s | 11,476 | 249,130 |
| 1960s | 29,099 | 208,293 |
| 1950s | 57,580 | 46,779 |
| 1940s | 90,742 | 5,693 |
| 1930s | 140,426 | 293 |
| 1920s | 290,404 | 97 |
| 1910s | 248,154 | 17 |
| 1900s | 69,428 | 0 |
| 1890s | 37,802 | 0 |
| 1880s | 11,496 | 0 |
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.”
Michelle is the French feminine form of Michel (Michael), from the Hebrew rhetorical question “Who is like God?” The Beatles’ 1965 song of the same name helped make it a global favourite.
Helen is more popular than Michelle today: about 668 US babies were given the name Helen in 2025, compared with 661 named Michelle.
In US records, Helen first appears in 1880 and Michelle in 1915, so Helen has the longer recorded history.