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Name Origin

Ellen is a feminine given name, primarily of Greek origin. It is a diminutive form of Helen, meaning 'light' or 'torch'.

greekfemininediminutivehelenlighttorchclassictraditional

Famous People

Ellen DeGeneres (1958-)

Comedian, television host, actress, writer, producer

  • Won numerous Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards for her talk show 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'
  • First openly gay host of a major daytime talk show
  • Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights

Ellen Pompeo (1969-)

Actress

  • Best known for her role as Meredith Grey on the medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy'
  • One of the highest-paid actresses in television

Ellen Barkin (1954-)

Actress, producer

  • Nominated for a Tony Award for her Broadway performance in 'The Normal Heart'
  • Starred in films such as ' Diner', 'Switch' and 'Sea of Love'

Ellen Page (1987-)

Actor, producer

  • Known for roles in Juno, Inception, and The Umbrella Academy
  • Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights

Similar Names

ElenaElinEileenHelenHeleneHelenaAilín

Sibling Names

Clara

Both Ellen and Clara are classic, elegant names of European origin with a timeless feel.

Amelia

Sharing a similar vintage charm and soft sound, Amelia complements Ellen beautifully.

Rose

A simple yet powerful name, Rose pairs well with Ellen's classic elegance and creates a harmonious sibling set.