Helen vs Tammy
Helen and Tammycompared 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 1981, Helen was ranked #92 and Tammy #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Helen was ranked #198 and Tammy #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Helen was ranked #291 and Tammy #584 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Helen was ranked #885 and Tammy #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Helen and Tammy over time
Helen and Tammy appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tammy 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.
Helen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Tammy 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 1981, Tammy moved ahead of Helen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #73 and #75 the year before became #92 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Helen and Tammy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1971 to 2014, ending at #291 and #584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Tammy #364 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1971–2014
Helen held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Tammy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #22 in 1971, Tammy #242 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Helen #291, Tammy #584.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Helen held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tammy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Tammy #364 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Helen #885, Tammy #4192.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1969–1981
Helen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Tammy in 4.
Highest recorded here: Helen #27 in 1969, Tammy #57 in 1977.
The order changed in 1981: Tammy moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #73 and #75; by 1981 that had become #92 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Helen #92, Tammy #79.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2008
Helen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tammy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #132 in 1999, Tammy #174 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Helen #198, Tammy #439.
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 | Tammy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4192 (2024) |
| 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); Tammy does not have one recorded yet.
- Helen and Tammy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Tammy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Helen a "high" Data Confidence level and Tammy 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 #438 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Tammy
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1981
Highest recorded position: #57 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1969–1981).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls