헬렌
Hellen
The English name Helen is written as 헬렌 (Hellen) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 헬레나 (Hellena).
Meaning: female given name (name)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 헬렌 | Hellen | |
| 헬레나 | Hellena | [he̞ɭɭe̞na̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
헬렌 is the female given name Helen in Korean. In close or informal relationships, you may see the name written as 헬렌아 to indicate familiarity.
Which one should you use?
헬렌 is the transcription of the name, while 헬레나 (Hellena) is an alternative form.
How does it change in a sentence?
In informal settings, adding the suffix -아 to the name 헬렌 indicates closeness and familiarity.
How do you pronounce it?
Hellen
Did you know?
- In Korea, western names like 헬렌 are often used as 'English names' chosen by students in language academies, which may be entirely different from the names on their official birth certificates.
- The name 헬렌 is associated with the 'Helen Keller' image in Korea, where she is widely revered as a symbol of overcoming adversity and is frequently mentioned in educational texts.
- While 헬렌 is a transcription of the English name, the name 'Helen' is often rendered as 헬레나 (Hellena) in religious contexts. This is because many Korean Christians prefer the Latinized version associated with Saint Helena.
Examples in context
- 헬렌, 안녕하세요?Hello, Helen.
- 헬렌아, 뭐해?Hey, Helen, what's up?
- 헬렌은 아주 친절해요.Helen-eun aju chinjeol-haeyo.Helen is very kind.
- 헬렌이 어디에 있어요?Helen-i eodi-e isseoyo?Where is Helen?
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are talking about a mutual acquaintance at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 헬렌 씨 알아요?Minjun ssi, Helen ssi arayo?Minjun, do you know Helen?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 헬렌 씨를 알아요.Ne, Helen ssi-reul arayo.Yes, I know Helen.
- 수빈 Su-bin헬렌 씨는 오늘 와요?Helen ssi-neun oneul wayo?Is Helen coming today?
- 민준 Min-jun아니요, 오늘은 안 와요.Aniyo, oneul-eun an wayo.No, she is not coming today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “helen” translations and entries 헬레나, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
