Ellen

Ellen is a feminine given name of English origin. It is a variant of Helen, which itself derives from the Greek name Helene, associated with light or brightness. The form Ellen emerged in medieval and early modern English and has remained common in the English-speaking world. There are various regional variants and diminutives, including Elin, Ellin, Ellene, and Helene; common nicknames include Ella, Ellie, and Nell.

The name Ellen has been used widely across different cultures and time periods, often without strong association to a particular era. Its popularity fluctuated in the United States and other countries during the 19th and 20th centuries, and it remains in use today, sometimes blended with modern or multicultural naming trends.

Notable people named Ellen include Ellen DeGeneres, an American comedian and television host; Ellen Burstyn, an American actress; Ellen Pompeo, an American actress; Ellen Page, a Canadian actor who now uses the name Elliot Page; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Liberian politician and former president; Ellen G. White, a cofounder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Ellen MacArthur, a British yachtswoman and sustainability advocate; and Ellen Swallow Richards, a pioneer in industrial and environmental chemistry. The surname Ellen exists but is far less common than the given name.

Fictional characters named Ellen appear in various media, with Ellen Ripley being one of the best-known, as the resilient protagonist of the Alien film series. The name Ellen appears across literature, film, and television as a conventional, recognizable given name for female characters.