The story behind Ellen
Medieval English variant of Helen, from Ancient Greek Ἑλένη (Helénē); also used as a variant of Eleanor or a feminine counterpart to Elliot.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Finnish entry
Variant of Elina, perhaps from English Ellen and Danish Ellen.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɛl.ən/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɛl.ɪn/
- Finnish: /ˈelːen/
- Finnish: [ˈe̞lːe̞n]
Popularity
Ellen ranked #1062 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ellen
Éamann
From Middle Irish Éadmonn, from Old English Ēadmund, from Proto-West Germanic *Audamundu, from Proto-Germanic *Audamunduz.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Edvin
From English Edwin, from Old English Ēadwine. Borrowed from English Edwin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Edwin
Inherited from Old English Ēadwine, from Proto-West Germanic *Audawini, from Proto-Germanic *Audawiniz. Akin to Old Norse Auðun, Icelandic Auðunn, German Otwin, Norwegian…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eileen
From Anglicized forms of Irish Eibhlín, Eilín or Aibhilín in Middle English and Modern English, all cognates of Evelyn from Old French Aveline. Sometimes also used for the…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Evan
Anglicization of Welsh Ifan, ultimately from Latin Jōhannēs, variant of Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (yōḥānān, yokhanán, literally “God is…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ewlyn
Borrowed from English Ewlyn.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ellen
Abelus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), itself from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel). The vowel, while short by etymology, is shown to be carrying stress by the descended…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ellen
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length