Helen vs Teresa
Helen and Teresacompared 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 1974, Helen was ranked #53 and Teresa #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Helen was ranked #54 and Teresa #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #381 and Teresa #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Helen was ranked #388 and Teresa #571 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Helen was ranked #440 and Teresa #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #705 and Teresa #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Helen and Teresa over time
Helen and Teresa appear together in 6 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Teresa in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Helen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Teresa in 2. 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Helen and Teresa averaged 50.6 places apart, ending at #54 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Helen and Teresa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #705 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #11 in 1966, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #381, Teresa #885.
Norway · Girls44 shared years, 1946–2016
Helen held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #93 in 1970, Teresa #236 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Helen #388, Teresa #571.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #705, Teresa #1362.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1957–1984
Helen held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #12 in 1958, Teresa #53 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Helen #54, Teresa #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1963–1974
Helen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #19 in 1965, Teresa #86 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Helen #53, Teresa #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2013
Helen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #132 in 1999, Teresa #220 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Helen #440, Teresa #440.
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 | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Teresa does not have one recorded yet.
- Helen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Teresa.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Teresa 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 Teresa 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
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls