Helen vs Linda
Helen and Lindacompared 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 1979, Helen was ranked #42 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Helen was ranked #84 and Linda #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Helen was ranked #138 and Linda #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Helen was ranked #461 and Linda #376 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #381 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #705 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Helen and Linda over time
Helen and Linda appear together in 5 published lists, across 222 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Linda in 2.
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, Linda in 1. 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 1962, Linda moved ahead of Helen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #21 and #22 the year before became #20 and #16.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Helen and Linda changed places 11 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2024, ending at #461 and #376.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Helen and Linda averaged 13.3 places apart, ending at #84 and #68.
- Longest-running competitions
Helen and Linda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #705 and #1892.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls77 shared years, 1945–2024
Helen held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Linda in 64.
Highest recorded here: Helen #93 in 1970, Linda #1 in 1975.
The order changed in 2022: Linda moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #374 and #416; by 2022 that had become #485 and #360.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Helen #461, Linda #376.
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Linda in 21.
Highest recorded here: Helen #11 in 1966, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #381, Linda #718.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1952–1982
Helen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Linda in 21.
Highest recorded here: Helen #9 in 1952, Linda #12 in 1963.
The order changed in 1962: Linda moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #21 and #22; by 1962 that had become #20 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Helen #84, Linda #68.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Linda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #705, Linda #1892.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979
Helen held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Linda in 11.
Highest recorded here: Helen #12 in 1958, Linda #7 in 1957.
The order changed in 1966: Helen moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #16 and #14; by 1966 that had become #17 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Helen #42, Linda #76.
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 | Helen | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, meaning disputed | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Linda does not have one recorded yet.
- Helen and Linda both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Linda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Helen a "high" Data Confidence level and Linda a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls