Name meaning & stats
Ellen
Ellen (Ancient Greek origin). 179,505 US babies since 1940, peak 1951. Notable Ellens are 1.5× over-represented as professors.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
Ancient Greek
A medieval English form of Helen.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1951
179,505 US babies were named Ellen between 1940 and 2025.
Where Ellens end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Writer | 1.4× | High · 56 people |
| Actor | 0.8× | High · 43 people |
| Politician | 1.2× | High · 38 people |
| Professor | 1.5× | High · 35 people |
Among notable women who are professors, Ellens show up 1.5× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Ellen has a surprise career: 1.7×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 48% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1951)