Ellen
Girl name · 1,270 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Ellen: 1,270 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 68 births in 1996.
Ellen is an English form of the Greek name Helenē, whose meaning is uncertain but often interpreted as "torch," "light," or "bright one," possibly linked to the Greek word for "moon." The name has been borne by numerous notable figures, including comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, actress Ellen Terry of the Victorian stage, and the pioneering Scots-born botanist and suffragist Ellen Ann Willmott. Place connections are less direct, though the Scottish island of St Kilda once had a district called Glen Ealag, which shares a similar root, and the name appears in placenames such as Ellen's Isle in Loch Lomond. A related variant, Elena, is equally popular across Europe, while the spelling Elen is the Welsh form.
Girl 52 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 199668 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #5395 babies
- Total births
- 1,270since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 43%vs prior 5y