Helen

Greek name, radiant

Helen is a feminine given name, from Greek meaning "bright" or "shining." The name's most famous bearer is Helen of Troy, the legendary beauty whose abduction sparked the Trojan War—hence Marlowe's "the face that launched a thousand ships." The name has remained consistently popular in English-speaking countries: My grandmother Helen lived to be ninety-three.

mythology

Troy

Ancient Anatolian city

ParisFrance's chief city
SpartaAncient Greek warrior state
abductionUnlawful seizure of person

Zeus · Clytemnestra · Castor · Pollux · swan · egg · demigod · curse · prophecy · elopement

epic

Homer

Ancient Greek epic composer

IliadAncient Greek war epic
OdysseyEpic of homecoming
AgamemnonMycenaean king, war leader

Achilles · Hector · Priam · Patroclus · Odysseus · Aeneas · Virgil · Aeneid · Euripides · tragedy

beauty

radiance

Glowing luminous quality

allureAttractive, tempting quality
fairnessJust and equal treatment
faceHead's anterior surface

legendary · divine · incomparable · captivating · enchanting · ideal · perfection · desire · admiration · envy

war

siege

Encirclement forcing surrender

battleArmed military engagement
armyOrganized land-based military
conflictOpposition between parties

ships · walls · gates · horse · sack · destruction · Greeks · Trojans · warriors · spear

name

Elena

Feminine name, Greek origin

EllenFemale name, Greek origin
EleanorFeminine name meaning bright
YelenaSlavic feminine given name

Elaine · Eileen · Nell · Nellie · Lena · saint · empress · patroness · feminine · classic

Categories

Girls' NamesAbigail, Alice, Amanda, Amy, Anna
Classical MythologyZeus, Apollo, Venus, Athena, Aphrodite
Greek mythologyZeus, Athena, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon
mythologyZeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Odin
1950s namesBarbara, Betty, Beverly, Bobby, Brenda
Greek NamesAlexander, Alexandra, Anastasia, Andreas, Athena

Opposites

gender

HelenHenry

Germanic masculine name

Harold · Herbert · Hector · Hugh · Herman

MYTHOLOGICAL ROLE (Beauty/Cause of War vs. Peace/Wisdom)

Greek wisdom deity

Penelope · Antigone · Hector · Andromache · Cassandra

moral valence in classical narrative

Traditional name, Greek origin

Andromache · Lucretia · Hector

Phrases

St. HelenaRemote South Atlantic territory
Helen Keller
Helen of TroyLegendary cause of ancient war
Helen Hunt
Helen Mirren
Saint HelenaRemote British overseas territory

Family

Hellenistic, Helena, Hellenic, Helene, Hellenism

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G