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A Classic Name

Ellen

The name Ellen peaked for boys at #785 in 1885. Ellen is occasionally used for girls in 2024.

The name Ellen is a girl's name of English origin meaning "torch; shining light".

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An medieval English form of Helen, the sensitive but clear-eyed Ellen has swung in and out of style for centuries, often alternating with the parent name. Ellen was the more common in medieval England, until after the Renaissance, when Helen overtook her. In Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, set at the end of the nineteenth century, one character wonders why another has not changed her "ugly" given name to something prettier, like Elaine—a statement few would make today.
 Ellen has been the name of two First Ladies—Arthur and Wilson—and is Scarlett O'Hara's mother in Gone with the Wind. These days, it's most strongly associated in the US with comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

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The name Ellen is currently ranked #920 in U.S. births. and peaked for girls at #58 in 1946. It is currently rising in popularity. The name is most popular in ELLEN, ELLEN, and ELLEN. Ellen is occasionally used for boys in 1993.

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