Helen

American  

[hel-uhn] / ˈhɛl ən /

noun

1. Also called Helen of Troy.  Classical Mythology. the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus whose abduction by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War.

2. a female given name.

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Helen British  

/ ˈhɛlɪn /

noun

1. Greek myth the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by Paris from her husband Menelaus caused the Trojan War

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Etymology

Origin of Helen

< French Hélène < Latin Helena < Greek Helénē, of obscure origin, probably the name of a pre-Greek vegetation goddess; often linked by folk etymology with helénē, helánē torch, St. Elmo's fire, an unrelated word

Example Sentences

Helen Knapman, news and investigations editor at MoneySavingExpert, says the Lifetime ISA can help many savers get on the property ladder but needs reform.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

“Market data already shows countywide rents are only about 2% above pre-emergency levels and rental inventory has grown,” Barger representative Helen E. Chavez Garcia said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

For New Yorkers, there’s so much good stuff to do locally right now—I recently loved seeing Helen Frankenthaler’s exhibition at Gagosian, Danielle Mckinney at Boesky Gallery and Carol Bove at the Guggenheim.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Helen Toner, a former OpenAI board member, testified that staff were “scared” to go against Altman.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

“But, Helen, wait for the seals,” Vern said.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen