Ellen
Say it: EL-en/ˈɛl.ən/
GirlMeans a medieval form of Helen, whose meaning is uncertain5 letters2 syllables
#166
in Ireland (2025)
#168 with spellings combined
28
babies in 2025
#23
best rank (2002)
8,391
babies since 1964
Down 112
10-year rank change
Ellen through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | #168 |
| 2024 | 33 | #142 |
| 2023 | 31 | #159 |
| 2022 | 52 | #103 |
| 2021 | 55 | #103 |
| 2020 | 46 | #113 |
| 2019 | 67 | #87 |
| 2018 | 81 | #78 |
| 2017 | 79 | #79 |
| 2016 | 99 | #64 |
| 2015 | 117 | #56 |
| 2014 | 120 | #57 |
| 2013 | 128 | #55 |
| 2012 | 155 | #47 |
| 2011 | 159 | #47 |
| 2010 | 168 | #47 |
| 2009 | 155 | #48 |
| 2008 | 193 | #39 |
| 2007 | 214 | #35 |
| 2006 | 196 | #34 |
| 2005 | 220 | #30 |
| 2004 | 222 | #28 |
| 2003 | 253 | #25 |
| 2002 | 229 | #23 |
| 2001 | 241 | #24 |
| 2000 | 217 | #24 |
| 1999 | 215 | #24 |
| 1998 | 154 | #26 |
| 1997 | 260 | #24 |
| 1996 | 219 | #27 |
| 1995 | 193 | #28 |
| 1994 | 171 | #33 |
| 1993 | 132 | #46 |
| 1992 | 128 | #48 |
| 1991 | 109 | #64 |
| 1990 | 74 | #90 |
| 1989 | 74 | #93 |
| 1988 | 72 | #95 |
| 1987 | 80 | #93 |
| 1986 | 69 | #99 |
| 1985 | 74 | #96 |
| 1984 | 70 | #103 |
| 1983 | 71 | #107 |
| 1982 | 97 | #86 |
| 1981 | 101 | #85 |
| 1980 | 105 | #84 |
| 1979 | 73 | #108 |
| 1978 | 84 | #93 |
| 1977 | 95 | #87 |
| 1976 | 88 | #92 |
| 1975 | 95 | #89 |
| 1974 | 111 | #81 |
| 1973 | 117 | #77 |
| 1972 | 128 | #66 |
| 1971 | 128 | #70 |
| 1970 | 146 | #60 |
| 1969 | 173 | #51 |
| 1968 | 177 | #41 |
| 1967 | 184 | #39 |
| 1966 | 203 | #35 |
| 1965 | 281 | #31 |
| 1964 | 282 | #27 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ellen mean?
A medieval form of Helen, whose meaning is uncertain
English, a medieval form of Helen, from the Greek Helenē.
Say it right
ELen
The story of Ellen
Ellen started out in medieval England as a form of Helen, a name that goes back to the Greek Helenē. What Helen originally meant is not known for certain. Over the centuries Ellen has also been used as a form of Eleanor, a separate name with its own story. In Irish the name usually given as its match is Eibhlín, and the old pet form Nell comes from Ellen as well as from Eleanor and Helen.
Ellen has been given in Ireland all through the CSO records. It was already well used in the 1960s, with 282 babies in 1964, then eased off before a strong return in the 1990s. Its best rank came when it reached number 23 in 2002. In Northern Ireland it reached number 21 in 2000.
It has become much rarer since then, with 28 girls in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ellen (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Nell (English proper noun)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Nell
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen | 28 | 8,391 |
In Northern Ireland
#231 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #21 (2000); 1,405 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.