UK girl's name
Helia
Of Greek origin, meaning "sun ray" or "sunshine".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Helia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Helia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 7 births.
This profile covers 58 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 58 living people in the UK are called Helia. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Helia ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 7 girls were registered as Helia.
- • About 58 living people in the UK are estimated to have Helia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3695
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2017
7 births
Estimated living
58
2026
Meaning
What does Helia mean?
The name Helia has its roots in ancient Greek culture, dating back to the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "helios," meaning "sun." This name was often associated with the sun god Helios, who was revered in Greek mythology as the personification of the sun itself.
In ancient Greek texts, such as the works of Homer and Hesiod, the name Helia is mentioned in connection with various mythological figures and deities related to the sun. For instance, Helia was one of the Heliades, the daughters of Helios and the nymph Clymene, who were turned into poplar trees after mourning their brother's death.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Helia can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He mentioned a woman named Helia who was the wife of the Spartan king Pausanias.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Helia. One of the most famous was Helia Eudocia (401-460 AD), a Byzantine empress who was known for her literary accomplishments and her patronage of the arts and sciences.
Another prominent figure was Helia Doxapatres (c. 1022-1098), a Byzantine noblewoman and writer who authored several works on religious and philosophical subjects.
In the realm of science, Helia Bravo Hollis (1901-2001) was a Mexican astronomer and pioneer in the field of astrophysics. She made significant contributions to the study of variable stars and was the first woman to be appointed as a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Helia Corrigan (1883-1976) was an American suffragist and women's rights activist who played a crucial role in the fight for women's suffrage in the United States during the early 20th century.
In more recent times, Helia Bravo Martínez (born 1936) is a notable Mexican author and playwright, known for her works that explore themes of identity, gender, and social issues.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Helia, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and accomplishments.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Helia over time
The chart below shows babies named Helia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Helia, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Helia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Helia was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3570 | 30 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4802 | 22 | 5 |
| 2000s | #5072 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Helia
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Helia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Helia in the UK right now?
In 2024, Helia was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Helia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 7 babies registered as Helia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Helia?
Of Greek origin, meaning "sun ray" or "sunshine".
How many people are called Helia in the UK?
A total of 58 babies have been registered as Helia across the 12 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.