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Ellen as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ellen

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The baby name Ellen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced ˈɛlən (ELL-en).

Ellen is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ˈɛlən (ELL-en)

What is the meaning of the name Ellen ?

The baby name Ellen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced ˈɛlən (ELL-en).

Ellen is Greek in Origin.

Rooted in medieval English, Ellen is the vernacular form of Helen, ultimately from Greek Helene. The name is commonly linked to helene "torch" and by extension to light or brightness; some connect it to helios "sun." Through Latin Helena and Old French Helene, Ellen settled into English as a stable, unpretentious classic.

Records show Ellen in Middle English as Elene/Ellen, buoyed by the cult of Saint Helena and enduring across the British Isles. It flourished in the 19th and early 20th centuries in English-speaking countries and remains familiar in Scandinavia, Germany, and the Netherlands. International variants and cognates include Helen, Helena, Helene, Elaine, Elena, Elin/Elina, Elene, Welsh Elen, Irish-Scottish Eileen/Aileen, and Hungarian Ilona; related diminutives range from Ellie, Elle, and Ella to Nell, Nellie, and Lena. Ellen offers timeless warmth with the luminous meaning "bright, shining light."

Ellen has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Ellen

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Politician · Born 1938 · Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is best known as the first elected female head of state in Africa, serving as the President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. Her leadership helped stabilize the country after years of civil war, and she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her efforts in promoting peace and women's rights. Ellen DeGeneres Actor · Born 1958 · United States Ellen DeGeneres is best known as the host of her long-running talk show, 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'. She also starred in the sitcom 'Ellen' and voiced the character Dory in the animated films 'Finding Nemo' and 'Finding Dory'. Ellen Burstyn Actor · Born 1932 · United States Ellen Burstyn is an acclaimed American actor best known for her role in the film 'The Exorcist'. She also starred in 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore', which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her performance in 'Requiem for a Dream' is another standout in her illustrious career.
Ellen Pompeo Actor · Born 1969 · United States Ellen Pompeo is an American actress best known for playing Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy. She became widely recognized for her long-running lead role on the hit medical drama. Ellen Corby Actor · Born 1911 · United States Ellen Corby was an American actress best known for playing Grandma Esther Walton on The Waltons. She also worked as a screenwriter and appeared in more than 200 film and TV productions over a career that stretched from the 1930s to the 1990s. Ellen Drew Actor · Born 1915 · United States Ellen Drew was an American actress best known for her roles in films during the 1930s and 1940s. She starred in movies like 'Christmas in July' and 'Isle of the Dead', showcasing her versatility and charm on screen.

Celebrity babies named Ellen

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Ellen Powell Joan Blondell model ★★★★★ Dick Powell film director ★★★★★

Ellen – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
NL Girls 0 #14 9,203 5,933
ET Girls 0 #16 1 372
NA 0 #26 8 2,537
KR Boys 0 #27 1 897
ID 0 #29 11 2,238
Sweden Girls 2022 #30 297 1,568
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
NL 0 #34 710 2,481
EE 0 #35 3 1,051
MT 0 #43 1 1,767
NL Girls 2014 #46 17 73
MO 0 #48 5 2,706
Iceland Girls 0 #51 12 132
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
TW 0 #56 45 4,523
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
PH 0 #62 35 5,607
ID Girls 0 #65 34 3,319
LU 0 #65 2 2,830
BW Girls 0 #66 92 4,216
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
CN 0 #73 13 3,857
JP 0 #74 4 4,057
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
BN Girls 0 #92 15 5,459
GH Girls 0 #92 550 6,973
AF Girls 0 #93 2 2,402
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
NA Girls 0 #99 140 7,146
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
QA 0 #103 4 7,011
GE Girls 0 #104 5 1,564
DK Girls 0 #105 366 7,429
Norway Girls 2025 #106 21 453
Finland Girls 2026 #112 5,423 3,895
EE Girls 0 #114 25 1,888
CN Girls 0 #115 354 8,829
OM 0 #118 4 6,215
PH Girls 0 #118 348 13,098
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
EC 0 #121 1 2,502
CY Girls 0 #122 4 3,755
Switzerland Girls 2024 #129 7 1,786
IQ 0 #129 5 3,533
TW Girls 0 #130 164 8,139
GR 0 #132 4 3,911
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
RS Girls 0 #137 1 1,651
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
JO 0 #139 2 2,158
GH 0 #145 109 5,396
MT Girls 0 #147 7 3,773
BW Boys 0 #151 4 4,685
DK 0 #154 50 5,198
AE 0 #160 18 10,220
CR 0 #161 5 5,526
ZA Girls 0 #164 3,512 25,928
PR Girls 0 #165 3 3,171
Germany Girls 0 #171 2,135 4,949
SI Girls 0 #173 5 2,769
HR 0 #180 2 2,081
LU Girls 0 #182 9 4,850
MO Girls 0 #183 69 7,056
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
Belgium Girls 2012 #187 23 406
BR Girls 0 #188 2,687 12,708
RU 0 #191 4 3,641
BR 0 #195 162 5,969
HK Girls 0 #197 757 16,104
HK 0 #199 164 8,483
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
PS 0 #200 19 5,692
AO Girls 0 #210 8 4,575
Finland Girls 0 #210 240 1,368
France Boys 1912 #214 3 571
GR Girls 0 #214 29 6,293
JP Girls 0 #218 28 6,592
HU Girls 0 #222 4 3,308
SG 0 #223 47 11,010
IR 0 #225 7 4,221
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
QA Girls 0 #229 88 15,378
MO Boys 0 #233 2 5,842
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
JM Girls 0 #244 16 7,507
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
PT 0 #247 4 4,161
NA Boys 0 #248 6 6,830
TW Boys 0 #250 7 7,111
IL 0 #256 19 6,291
CZ Girls 0 #258 85 5,378
Canada Girls 2024 #265 21 2,795
NG 0 #269 4 5,926
KW Girls 0 #270 260 19,177
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
Finland 0 #285 23 830
SA 0 #286 10 10,560
HR Girls 0 #289 6 3,687
SG Girls 0 #289 338 18,916
JO Girls 0 #293 33 7,570
MY 0 #294 37 12,352
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
Germany 0 #298 145 2,542
AL Boys 0 #303 1 5,122
CN Boys 0 #309 11 9,639
OM Girls 0 #313 84 15,987
KZ Girls 0 #324 9 5,862
PE 0 #326 4 6,350
ZA 0 #327 121 14,421
GH Boys 0 #330 16 8,138
SD Girls 0 #332 14 7,678
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
AE Girls 0 #353 202 20,968
MU Girls 0 #355 8 8,539
PL Girls 0 #358 7 5,096
Austria Girls 0 #369 52 1,885
YE 0 #371 11 8,639
BD Girls 0 #376 11 8,413
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
RU Girls 0 #390 111 11,913
France Girls 2021 #393 13 3,185
PT Girls 0 #395 57 7,952
CL 0 #399 13 6,867
PH Boys 0 #405 4 11,440
BO 0 #407 2 6,868
EG 0 #407 6 6,387
IQ Girls 0 #411 94 11,303
PS Girls 0 #413 112 10,981
CR Girls 0 #438 95 11,342
Spain 0 #438 15 2,326
IR Girls 0 #438 93 8,334
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
PA Girls 0 #463 19 9,861
IL Girls 0 #491 128 11,648
LY 0 #495 41 12,703
UY Girls 0 #498 13 6,731
BH 0 #499 55 17,937
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
CO 0 #506 5 7,768
SA Girls 0 #510 461 25,931
HK Boys 0 #518 10 12,905
RU Boys 0 #524 3 12,621
GT Girls 0 #534 8 7,500
CM Girls 0 #552 9 11,671
PS Boys 0 #557 5 10,655
IN Girls 0 #621 11 13,121
AR Girls 0 #622 9 8,289
IL Boys 0 #623 3 10,983
SY 0 #623 106 11,684
NG Girls 0 #631 157 15,093
LB 0 #633 26 13,263
BO Girls 0 #645 7 9,488
IT 0 #645 70 4,183
United States Girls 2024 #674 244 8,487
MY Girls 0 #675 333 24,821
IQ Boys 0 #691 7 13,071
CL Boys 0 #699 2 13,390
BR Boys 0 #717 35 12,213
EG Girls 0 #723 241 14,742
SG Boys 0 #734 6 17,960
QA Boys 0 #741 3 18,093
CL Girls 0 #760 92 14,098
KW Boys 0 #802 5 18,755
TN 0 #818 12 13,765
Spain Girls 0 #823 161 5,561
PE Girls 0 #859 85 14,861
IT Girls 0 #880 644 9,415
OM Boys 0 #917 2 17,948
EG Boys 0 #922 4 15,035
PE Boys 0 #922 5 14,506
NL Boys 0 #927 25 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #941 12 5,697
CO Girls 0 #975 104 16,140
CO Boys 0 #976 6 15,656
NG Boys 0 #994 8 16,906
ZA Boys 0 #1,028 151 25,619
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
MY Boys 0 #1,090 22 25,439
MA 0 #1,105 24 20,986
MX Girls 0 #1,123 61 17,781
AE Boys 0 #1,139 5 22,615
DZ 0 #1,161 16 20,130
TR 0 #1,180 32 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,594 21 28,008

Ellen is popular in 91 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
NL
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Ellen

Ellen is predominantly a girl's name.
Ellen is a 2 syllable name, pronounced ˈɛlən (ELL-en).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Elen, Elin, Ellyn, Ellin, Elle and Ellie.
Yes, very popular — Ellen ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 12 countries.
Ellen ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Ellen's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 14 notable people named Ellen are in our database, including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Politician), Ellen DeGeneres (Actor), Ellen Burstyn (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Ellen for their child, including Joan Blondell and Dick Powell.