Helen vs. Ellen: which name is older?
The average Helen is 66 and the average Ellen is 62, so Helen is the older name, by about 5 years.
Helen
Ellen
When was each name popular?
Helen peaked first, in 1918 (in the late 1910s). Ellen peaked in 1951, 33 years later.
Which name is more common?
There are about 200,000 Helens and about 150,000 Ellens alive in the US, so there are about 35% more Helens than Ellens.
Boys or girls?
Both are girls' names: over 99% of living Helens and over 99% of living Ellens are women.
Names the same age as Helen
Names the same age as Ellen
More comparisons: Eleanor vs. Ellen
Think you can guess a Helen's age?
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Helen or Ellen: questions
Which is older, Helen or Ellen?
The average Helen is 66 and the average Ellen is 62, so Helen is the older name, by about 5 years.
How old is the average Helen?
The average Helen in the US is 66; half of all living Helens are between 58 and 83.
How old is the average Ellen?
The average Ellen in the US is 62; half of all living Ellens are between 52 and 75.
Which is more common, Helen or Ellen?
There are about 200,000 Helens and about 150,000 Ellens alive in the US, so there are about 35% more Helens than Ellens.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). How we calculate this