Find out how popular the first name Ellen has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ellen by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ellen is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Ellen being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 237 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ellen.

The history of the first name Ellen

The name Ellen is derived from the Greek word "Helene" which means "bright one" or "shining light". It originated in ancient Greece and was a popular name among the Greeks and Romans. The name was also associated with the Greek goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite.

Ellen is a variation of the more common name Helen, which was popularized in the Middle Ages due to its association with St. Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. St. Helen was a devout Christian who is believed to have discovered the True Cross in Jerusalem in the 4th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ellen can be found in the Old English epic poem "Beowulf", which dates back to around the 8th century AD. In the poem, there is a character named Aelfwine, which is an Old English name that could be considered a precursor to Ellen.

Throughout history, there have been several notable women named Ellen. Ellen Wilkinson (1891-1947) was a British Labour politician and one of the first women to be elected to the House of Commons. Ellen Terry (1847-1928) was a renowned English stage actress who was considered one of the greatest actresses of the late 19th century.

Ellen Troutman Zahourek (1826-1905) was a Norwegian-American musician and composer who is credited with helping to establish the Norwegian-American community in the United States. Ellen Key (1849-1926) was a Swedish writer and feminist who advocated for women's rights and education reform.

Ellen MacArthur (born 1976) is a British sailor who broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005. She is also known for her efforts in promoting sustainable practices and circular economy principles.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ellen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ellen, please contact us.

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