Geraldine vs Helen
Geraldine 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Geraldine was ranked #430 and Helen #324 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Geraldine was ranked #883 and Helen #390 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Geraldine was ranked #5891 and Helen #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Geraldine and Helen over time
Geraldine and Helen appear together in 2 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Geraldine 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.
Geraldine 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.
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 1972, Helen moved ahead of Geraldine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #19 and #22 the year before became #29 and #24.
- Longest-running competitions
Geraldine and Helen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #883 and #390.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Geraldine #848 in 1996, Helen #108 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #9 and #13 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #883 and #390.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2021
Geraldine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Helen in 45.
Highest recorded here: Geraldine #7 in 1965, Helen #11 in 1966.
The order changed in 1972: Helen moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #19 and #22; by 1972 that had become #29 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Geraldine #883, Helen #390.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Geraldine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Helen in 25.
Highest recorded here: Geraldine #848 in 1996, Helen #108 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Geraldine #5891, Helen #885.
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 | Geraldine | 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 | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Geraldine does not have one recorded yet.
- Geraldine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Helen.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Geraldine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Geraldine 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
Geraldine
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #438 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls