Ellen

Updated: October 20, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Ellen is a vintage baby girl’s name. Ellen means “torch, shining light” and is derived from the Greek name Helen. It may have dropped in popularity in the second half of the 20th century, but Ellen has remained in the top 1000 baby names since 1900.

Meaning and Origin of the name Ellen:

Ellen is a cute girl's name of English origin meaning “torch” or “shining light.”

Ellen is an English name derived from the name Helen. Helen is derived from the Greek name Helenē, which comes from the words helanē (meaning “torch”) and helē (meaning “brightness of the sun”).

Symbolism of the name Ellen:

Ellen means “shining light” or “torch” Light is a common symbol of beauty, purity, innocence, and wisdom. A torch is a symbol of protection and illumination in the dark.

Nicknames for the name Ellen:

This sweet girl's name has many options for nicknames that are just as sweet. Ellen can be shortened from the beginning or the end to create cute nicknames. Below is a list we put together to help you find the perfect nickname for your little girl.

Elle
Ellie
Ella
Len
Lenny
Lena

Style of the name Ellen:

Traditional

Gender of the name Ellen:

Ellen is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Ellen:

EHL-ən (English), EHL-lehn (Finnish)

Number of syllables in the name Ellen:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Ellen:

Ellen evokes feelings of hard work and honesty.

Alternative spellings for the name Ellen:

Elen
Ellan
Ehlen
Ellyn

Popularity of the name Ellen:

According to the Social Security Administration, Ellen is a popular baby girl’s name. Ellen has been in the top 1000 names list since 1900. It was in the top 100 names for most years between 1900 and 1961.