Hela Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HEH-lah //ˈhɛl.ə//
Origin: Norse; Hebrew
Meaning: goddess of death (Norse); halo (Hebrew)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Hela has roots in Old Norse, deriving from the word "hellir," which means "overhang" or "cliff cave." This term is associated with the Norse goddess Hel, who presided over the realm of the dead, known as Helheim. The name entered English through the influence of Norse mythology and literature, particularly during the Viking Age, when Norse culture began to permeate various regions of Europe, including the British Isles.
The transition from Old Norse to English saw the name evolve in form and meaning, reflecting the cultural exchanges of the time. Historically, Hel is mentioned in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems from the 13th century, which preserves much of the mythology surrounding the Norse gods.
The Edda describes Hel as the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angerboda, tasked with ruling over those who die of illness or old age. This association with death and the afterlife has given the name Hela a significant cultural resonance, linking it to themes of mortality and the afterlife in Norse belief systems.
In addition to its mythological roots, the name Hela has been adopted in various forms across different cultures, often symbolizing strength and resilience. The name's connection to the underworld and its governing figure has led to its use in literature and art, where it evokes the duality of life and death.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist, such as Helly, the original form retains a strong connection to its mythological origins, ensuring its place in the tapestry of names derived from ancient traditions.
Famous people named Hela
In this section, you will find notable people named Hela. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Hela who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Hela who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Hela J. K. is a singer-songwriter best known for her music in the pop genre.
Fictional characters named Hela
The following list of fictional characters named Hela is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Hela is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. She is the Asgardian goddess of death and a prominent antagonist in the Thor series.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hela, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Hela was first seen in the United States in 1990.
Hela has ranked as high as #1365 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Hela has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Hela is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Hela was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Hela
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Hela.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 1990 | 5 |