Alfhild vs Helen
Alfhild 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.
Norway · Girls
In 1980, Alfhild was ranked #610 and Helen #153 among girls in Norway.
Alfhild and Helen over time
Alfhild and Helen appear together in 1 published list, across 24 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Alfhild in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alfhild reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Helen 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.
List by list
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1945–1980
Alfhild held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helen in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alfhild #153 in 1945, Helen #94 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Alfhild #610, Helen #153.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Helen
Pairs where Helen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Helen vs Carmel
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #21 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2015 they were #222 and #896.
Helen · Carmel · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Helen vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #255 and #896.
Helen · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Helen vs Teresa
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #885.
Helen · Teresa · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Geraldine vs Helen
In 1964 they stood at #9 and #13 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #883 and #390.
Geraldine · Helen · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alfhild | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena |
| Recorded regional usage | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #610 (1980) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Alfhild does not have one recorded yet.
- Alfhild and Helen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Alfhild doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
- The available evidence gives Alfhild 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
Alfhild
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #153 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–1980
Highest recorded position: #153 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–1980).
Norway · Girls
Most recent1980
Most recently recorded at #610 among girls in Norway, in 1980.
Norway · 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 #438 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls