Helena, Montana: From the Latinized Greek word Helen. John Somerville suggested it at a meeting of several hundred miners, in 1864, as a name for the settlement. Opinions differ, however, as to the origin of the name, for by some it is supposed to be named for Helen of Troy. The Helena Historical Directory of 1879 says it was named by John Somerville, of Minnesota, St. Helena, from the resemblance in its location to that of the original St. Helena. It was then voted to drop the prefix Saint, and that was done.

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