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The short answer
Ellen is a feminine name used in English and German. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Medieval English form of Helen. This was the usual spelling of the name until the 19th century, when the form Helen also became common." It ranked #1062 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, medieval English form of Helen. This was the usual spelling of the name until the 19th century, when the form Helen also became common. The entry lists its usage as English, German, Danish, Swedish and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Ellen ranked #1062 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #1062 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Ellen in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ellen mean?
Behind the Name does not give Ellen a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: medieval English form of Helen.
Is Ellen a popular name?
Ellen ranked #1062 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Ellen a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Ellen appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Ellen (1) — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
