Ellen
Ellen is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Shining light, bright one, or torch.
Origin and history
Ellen is historically a feminine name of Greek origin derived from Helen, meaning 'shining light' or 'torch'. Though predominantly used for females in the United States, historical SSA data shows occasional usage as a masculine name in earlier decades. As a male given name, it is now extremely rare in modern U.S. birth records.
Popularity in the United States
745 babies in the United States have been named Ellen since 1880. It ranks #3931 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- NY (81.8 %)
- DC (18.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 12 |
| 1890-1900 | 22 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 51 |
| 1920-1930 | 100 |
| 1930-1940 | 128 |
| 1940-1950 | 146 |
| 1950-1960 | 115 |
| 1960-1970 | 94 |
| 1970-1980 | 20 |
| 1980-1990 | 39 |
| 1990-2000 | 13 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- Although predominantly female, Ellen appeared as a masculine name in U.S. birth registries primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- It originated as an English variant of the Classical Greek name Helena.