Helen vs Lisa
Helen and Lisacompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Helen was ranked #84 and Lisa #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1990, Helen was ranked #84 and Lisa #25 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #438 and Lisa #174 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Helen was ranked #440 and Lisa #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #381 and Lisa #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Helen was ranked #541 and Lisa #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #705 and Lisa #661 among girls in England and Wales.
Helen and Lisa over time
Helen and Lisa appear together in 6 published lists, across 239 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Helen in 0.
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, Lisa 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 1963, Lisa moved ahead of Helen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #20 and #25 the year before became #23 and #14.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Helen and Lisa changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #705 and #661.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Helen and Lisa averaged 38.4 places apart, ending at #84 and #10.
- Longest-running competitions
Helen and Lisa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #705 and #661.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls78 shared years, 1945–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Lisa in 48.
Highest recorded here: Helen #93 in 1970, Lisa #37 in 1994.
The order changed in 1978: Lisa moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #135 and #138; by 1978 that had become #132 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #438, Lisa #174.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Lisa in 41.
Highest recorded here: Helen #11 in 1966, Lisa #3 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #381, Lisa #443.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Lisa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #705, Lisa #661.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1962–1990
Helen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 25.
Highest recorded here: Helen #13 in 1964, Lisa #1 in 1968.
The order changed in 1966: Lisa moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #16 and #31; by 1966 that had become #17 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Helen #84, Lisa #25.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1959–1982
Helen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Helen #14 in 1960, Lisa #2 in 1968.
The order changed in 1963: Lisa moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #20 and #25; by 1963 that had become #23 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Helen #84, Lisa #10.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2013
Helen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lisa in 13.
Highest recorded here: Helen #132 in 1999, Lisa #63 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Helen #440, Lisa #370.
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 | Lisa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. |
| Origin | Greek, meaning disputed | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | /ˈliː.sə/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Helen is recorded with a Greek, meaning disputed origin, while Lisa is recorded with a Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth origin.
- Helen and Lisa both have 2 syllables.
- Helen's recorded meaning differs from Lisa's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Helen a "high" Data Confidence level and Lisa 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #661 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls