Andrea vs Helen
Andrea 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 1988, Andrea was ranked #94 and Helen #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #98 and Helen #438 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #304 and Helen #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Andrea was ranked #440 and Helen #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #1079 and Helen #705 among girls in England and Wales.
Andrea and Helen over time
Andrea and Helen appear together in 5 published lists, across 207 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Andrea in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Andrea 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 1984, Andrea moved ahead of Helen in Norway · Girls — #194 and #134 the year before became #108 and #160.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrea and Helen changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1079 and #705.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Andrea and Helen averaged 18.9 places apart, ending at #94 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrea and Helen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Andrea #354 in 1998, Helen #108 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1952–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Helen in 28.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #11 in 2005, Helen #93 in 1970.
The order changed in 1984: Andrea moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #194 and #134; by 1984 that had become #108 and #160.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #98, Helen #438.
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Helen in 42.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #62 in 1985, Helen #11 in 1966.
The order changed in 2025: Andrea moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #736 and #441; by 2025 that had become #304 and #381.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #304, Helen #381.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1957–1988
Andrea held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Helen in 20.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #15 in 1975, Helen #12 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Andrea #94, Helen #78.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Helen in 22.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #354 in 1998, Helen #108 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #1079, Helen #705.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2013
Andrea held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Helen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #119 in 1999, Helen #132 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrea #440, Helen #440.
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 | Andrea | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #98 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Andrea does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrea and Helen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Andrea doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Andrea 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
Andrea
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #401 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1952–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1079 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