name
Common
ellen
EHL-uhn
Ellen (name) means a female given name derived from the Ancient Greek name Helen. Example: “Her grandmother was named Ellen after a favourite aunt.”
name
1
A female given name derived from the Ancient Greek name Helen.
"Her grandmother was named Ellen after a favourite aunt."
"Ellen Page gives a star-making performance as a 16-year-old live wire who decides to go through with her pregnancy and seeks acceptably well-adjusted, wealthy, punk-rock loving parents for the unborn baby."
— , Review: Jones, Coens, Penn highlight Toronto (2007)
noun
1
An archaic word for courage, strength, or zeal.
"The old ballad speaks of a young knight whose ellen never failed him."
"In the medieval poem, the hero finds new ellen when his friends need help."
"Old poetry sometimes praised a warrior's ellen in battle."
How to use ellen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly known today as a female first name; historically also meant "courage" or "strength."
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Her grandmother was named _____ after a favourite aunt.
Etymology
The given name comes from Greek Helen; the older noun sense is from Old English ellen, "zeal, strength, courage," a word that has fallen out of everyday use.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “ellen” mean?
The word “ellen” means a female given name derived from the Ancient Greek name Helen. In plain terms, mainly known today as a female first name; historically also meant "courage" or "strength.".
How do you pronounce “ellen”?
“Ellen” is pronounced EHL-uhn (/ˈɛl.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “ellen” in a sentence?
Here is “ellen” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother was named Ellen after a favourite aunt.”
What part of speech is “ellen”?
Depending on how it is used, “ellen” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “ellen” come from?
The word “ellen” comes from Old English. The given name comes from Greek Helen; the older noun sense is from Old English ellen, "zeal, strength, courage," a word that has fallen out of everyday use.
Is “ellen” a common word?
“Ellen” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ellen” have?
“Ellen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a female given name derived from the Ancient Greek name Helen.
What is the connection between the names Ellen and Helen?
Ellen is an English form of Helen, a name that derives from Ancient Greek. The two names are therefore historically the same, with Ellen developing as an English spelling of the older name.
Does ellen mean anything as an ordinary word?
Yes. Besides being a name, ellen is an archaic English noun meaning courage, strength, or zeal. This sense survives only in very old texts and is not used in modern everyday English.
What are common nicknames for Ellen?
Common pet forms of Ellen include Ellie, Nell, and Nellie. Because Ellen is itself short, it is also very often used in full without any nickname.
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