| Meaning | bright, shining light |
| Origin | English, Greek |
| Gender | Girl |
| Popularity | Moderate |
| Length | 5 |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Syllabification | El-len |
About Ellen
Timeless simplicity gives this name enduring appeal across generations. Its straightforward structure and clear pronunciation make it universally accessible while maintaining dignified presence. The name has served remarkable women throughout history, carrying associations with strength, intelligence, and grace. It requires no explanation, no spelling corrections, no awkward pronunciations. Parents who select this name often value substance over flash, preferring proven classics to trendy innovations. It's a name that respects tradition while remaining perfectly suited to contemporary life.
Nicknames for Ellen
| Ellie |
| Ell |
| Ella |
| Nelly |
Famous People Named Ellen
| Ellen DeGeneres | American comedian and TV host |
| Ellen Pompeo | American actress, best known for her role as Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy |
| Ellen Page | Canadian actress known for roles in Juno and Inception |
| Ellen Burstyn | American actress and Academy Award winner |
| Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | Former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize laureate |
| Ellen Barkin | American actress with numerous film and TV credits |
| Ellen Terry | Renowned British stage actress from the Victorian era |
| Ellen G. White | One of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church |
| Ellen Allien | German electronic music producer and DJ |
| Ellen Taaffe Zwilich | American composer and Pulitzer Prize winner |
| Ellen MacArthur | British yachtswoman and record-breaking sailor |
| Ellen Ochoa | First Hispanic woman in space, a former astronaut and engineer |
| Ellen Johnson | Nigerian politician and environmental activist |
| Ellen Stofan | American planetary geologist and former Chief Scientist of NASA |
| Ellen Key | Swedish feminist and writer |
| Ellen Bryant Voigt | American poet and Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets |
| Ellen Wong | Canadian actress known for roles in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Glow |
| Ellen van Dijk | Dutch professional road racing cyclist and Olympic champion |
| Ellen Greve | aka Suzie Grime - Norwegian beauty blogger and YouTuber |
| Ellen Kullman | American business executive and former CEO of DuPont |
Characters Named Ellen
| Ellen Ripley | Protagonist in the Alien film series |
| Ellen Olenska | Character in Edith Wharton's novel "The Age of Innocence" |
| Ellen Berent | Character in the novel and film "Leave Her to Heaven" |
| Ellen Parsons | Main character in the TV series "Damages" |
| Ellen Tigh | Character in the TV series "Battlestar Galactica" |
| Ellen Harvelle | Character in the TV series "Supernatural" |
| Ellen Langford | Protagonist in the film "The Princess Switch" |
| Ellen Brody | Character in the film "Jaws" |
| Ellen 'Ellie' Sattler | Character in the film "Jurassic Park" |
| Ellen Morgan | Main character in the TV series "Ellen" |
| Ellen Riply | Character in the film "Ghostbusters II" |
| Ellen Ford | Character in the novel "The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub |
| Ellen Dow | Character in the film "Road House" |
| Ellen Hardy | Character in the TV series "Make Room for Daddy" |
| Ellen Tinker | Character in the film "Home for the Holidays" |
| Ellen Thompson | Character in the film "Fatal Attraction" |
| Ellen Dolan | Character in the radio show "The Shadow" |