Name meaning
Ellen
means “light”
- Origin
- Greek, via English
- Gender
- Mostly feminine
- Used in
- English, Dutch, Scandinavian, German
- Spellings
- Ellen · Helen · Elena · Eleni
- Form of
- Helene
- Say it
- EL-en
- Letters
- 5
Researched meaning
Save on PinterestEllen giftsThe story of Ellen
Ellen is a medieval English form of Helen, traditionally linked to the Greek for torch or light. It is popular in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Roots
Medieval English form of Helen (Greek Helenē).
Where it is used
Helen and Elena are related.
Ellen name FAQ
What does the name Ellen mean?
Ellen means “light”. Medieval English form of Helen (Greek Helenē).
Where does the name Ellen come from?
Ellen is of Greek, via English origin. Today it is used in English, Dutch, Scandinavian, German families.
How do you pronounce Ellen?
Ellen is usually pronounced EL-en.
Is Ellen a boy's or a girl's name?
Ellen is mostly feminine.
What are other spellings of Ellen?
Related spellings and forms include Helen, Elena, Eleni.
Ellen name gifts
We make Ellen gifts on request: mugs, shirts, pillows, blankets, wall art and more, with exactly this spelling.
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Names that also mean “light”
More Greek names
Ellen in our collections
Names like Ellen
Sources
Name data: Public-Census, SSA-Census, Wikidata, Wiktionary-EN. Meaning and background researched by our team from the sources below and written in our own words. Wikipedia and Wiktionary content is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.