Helle

Helle has two distinct origins. As a Scandinavian and Estonian name, it is a feminine form derived from Old Norse roots related to the name Helga, itself from the element heilagr meaning holy or blessed, making it a cognate of names such as Helga and Aili. In Greek mythology, Helle is the name of the daughter of Athamas and Nephele who fell into the strait later called the Hellespont — meaning Sea of Helle — while fleeing on the back of the golden ram, an episode that gave the name lasting cultural resonance in the ancient world. The Scandinavian and mythological uses are unrelated in origin despite their identical form.