Details for the forename Helena

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Helena (female)


Variants:	Elena (F) Helen (F)
Diminutive(s):	Lena (F) Lene (F)
Pet Name(s):	Leni (F)
Can be spelt:	Ellena (F)

Source(s):	English Parish Register freereg.rootsweb.com The Oxford Names Companion, OUP "Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Notes:	English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and throughout Eastern Europe, Helena is the Latinate form of Helen [q.v.] which is from Greek meaning either "sun's rays" [ONC] or "bright one" [Whyte]. Helena is nowadays a popular variant of Helen as a given name. It was used, with appropriate Latin case endings, in old documents for Helen, Ellen and Elinor etc.