Ella vs Helena
Ella and Helenacompared 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 2025, Ella was ranked #4 and Helena #172 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ella was ranked #7 and Helena #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Helena #790 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Helena #166 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Helena #371 among girls in England and Wales.
Ella and Helena over time
Ella and Helena appear together in 4 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Helena in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Helena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ella 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 1998, Ella moved ahead of Helena in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #176 and #164 the year before became #94 and #203.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ella and Helena changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #4 and #172.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ella rose about as far as Helena fell — from #447 and #76 in 1970 to #17 and #166 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ella and Helena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 73 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #4 and #172.
List by list
Norway · Girls73 shared years, 1945–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Helena in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2019, Helena #74 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #4, Helena #172.
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Helena in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Helena #76 in 1970.
The order changed in 1998: Ella moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #176 and #164; by 1998 that had become #94 and #203.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Helena #166.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Helena in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Helena #145 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #39, Helena #371.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2023
Ella held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Helena in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Helena #229 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ella #7, Helena #391.
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 | Ella | Helena |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Helena does not have one recorded yet.
- Ella has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Helena.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Helena doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Helena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #326 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #63 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #172 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls