Ellen

Ellen is a girl's name of Scandinavian origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 244 girls in the United States.

Ellen at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
Scandinavian
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈɛl.ən/

About the name Ellen

Ellen belongs to the Scandinavian tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Ellen first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #58 in 1946, and in 2024 244 babies received the name — 275,048 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Ellen in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#58 in 1946
Peak year
1951
Babies named Ellen in 2024
244
Total since 1880
275,048

Similar names

More names from the Scandinavian shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Ellen mean?

The meaning of Ellen is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Scandinavian origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Ellen a boy or girl name?

Ellen is a girl name. In 2024, 244 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Ellen?

Ellen comes from the Scandinavian tradition.

How popular is the name Ellen?

Ellen first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #58 in 1946, and 244 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Ellen?

Ellen is pronounced /ˈɛl.ən/ (IPA).

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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.