Alana vs Helen
Alana and Helencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Alana was ranked #71 and Helen #84 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Alana was ranked #75 and Helen #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alana was ranked #237 and Helen #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alana was ranked #244 and Helen #705 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alana was ranked #247 and Helen #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alana was ranked #431 and Helen #541 among girls in Scotland.
Alana and Helen over time
Alana and Helen appear together in 4 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Alana held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Helen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Helen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Alana in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Alana moved ahead of Helen in New Zealand · Girls — #86 and #81 the year before became #71 and #84.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alana and Helen changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1980 and 1990, ending at #71 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Alana and Helen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #244 and #705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Alana #67 in 2001, Helen #132 in 1999.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1980–2025
Alana held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Helen in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alana #89 in 2004, Helen #40 in 1981.
The order changed in 2024: Alana moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #296 and #262; by 2024 that had become #232 and #441.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alana #247, Helen #381.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alana held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Helen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alana #172 in 2016, Helen #108 in 1996.
The order changed in 2001: Alana moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #284 and #206; by 2001 that had become #206 and #243.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alana #244, Helen #705.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2023
Alana held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Helen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alana #67 in 2001, Helen #132 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alana #237, Helen #391.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1980–1990
Alana held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Helen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alana #49 in 1983, Helen #28 in 1980.
The order changed in 1990: Alana moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #86 and #81; by 1990 that had become #71 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Alana #71, Helen #84.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alana | Helen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The English form of Greek Helene. The meaning is genuinely debated among scholars — likely from Greek 'helene' ('torch'), though some suggest a connection to 'selene' ('moon'). In mythology, Helen's abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War; the name's continued Christian use stems from Saint Helena. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, meaning disputed |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈhɛl.ən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #244 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Alana does not have one recorded yet.
- Alana has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Helen.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Alana doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alana a "medium" Data Confidence level and Helen a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alana
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1980–1997
Highest recorded position: #49 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1980–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Helen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #149 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls