Ellen
2 syllables
♀ Female ◎ English / Greek ◈ 2 syllables
"Torch of Light"

From English / Greek

Ellen means shining light — a variant of Helen, from the Greek. Ellen DeGeneres changed television by coming out on primetime. Ellen Ripley is the greatest action heroine in cinema history — Aliens' Sigourney Weaver redefined what a female hero could be. Ellen Terry was the greatest actress of the Victorian stage. Five letters of shining-light heritage, primetime courage, and the woman who fought the Alien.

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Ellen at a glance
MeaningTorch of Light
OriginEnglish / Greek
GenderFemale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 3
US Rank (today)#848
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Why parents love Ellen
  • Ellen Ripley is the greatest action heroine in cinema.
  • Ellen DeGeneres changed television history.
  • Ellen Terry was the Victorian stage's greatest actress.
  • Five letters with a bright, clean sound: EL-en.
  • The meaning shining light carries Helen heritage.
The vibe of Ellen
shining lightHelenRipleyAliensDeGeneresTerryVictoriancourageprimetime
Origin & history of Ellen
Greek Helene (shining light) English variant Ellen
1
English / Greek roots
Ellen is a variant of Helen meaning shining light. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in Aliens is the greatest action heroine in cinema. Ellen DeGeneres changed television by coming out on primetime. Ellen Terry was the Victorian stage's greatest actress.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: English variant; Ellen Terry (1847–1928); Aliens (1986).
3
Today
Ellen remains a beloved choice, ranking #848 in the US. 275,793 babies have been named Ellen since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
How popular is Ellen?
1951 peak year
Ellen has been losing ground. Once far more common, it has been declining steadily in recent years. It currently ranks around #848, with about 331 babies named Ellen each year. In 1951, 5,945 babies were named Ellen (ranked #68 nationally). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 275,793.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
5,945 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #68)
331 Avg. per year
(last decade)
3,310 Total registrations
last 10 years
275,793 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #848) Popular
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Ellen
3
Life path number
The Creator
Creativity, joy and self-expression.

Ellen's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — Ripley-level leadership. People named Ellen tend to be brave, pioneering, and gifted at fighting aliens while shining the brightest light.

Fights aliens while shining
Ripley-level brave
DeGeneres-level courage
Terry-level artistry
Shining-light heritage
E5
L3
L3
E5
N5
Sum: 21 → Life path 3
Personality of Ellen
Bright & creative
Imaginative, expressive, endlessly inventive.
😊
Magnetic warmth
Their laugh is contagious. People love being near them.
🌈
Eternal optimist
Even in dark moments they find the light.
🗣️
Storyteller
They can describe anything and make it fascinating.
Names that combine with Ellen

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Ellen.

Middle names for Ellen

The right middle name turns Ellen into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Ellen is a beautiful choice.
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