Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Ellan
Ellan
How to Pronounce Ellan
Pronounced EL-uhn /ΛΙl.Ιn/Low
Meaning: Ellan is a variant spelling of Ellen, the enduring English form of Helen, from the Greek Helene. That name is traditionally connected to helios and to words for 'torch,' 'light' or 'shining brightness,' though its earliest sense is debated. Ellan carries the light-filled meaning of its parent, with the -an ending giving a soft variant shape.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Ellan is a spelling of Ellen, from the Greek Helene, long linked with 'torch,' 'light' or 'shining.' The -an ending marks it as a gentle variant rather than a new name, and its luminous meaning is inherited from Helen. It stayed uncommon in the United States.
Ellan appeared in small numbers, peaking around 1957 with still only about fifteen girls a year. A woman named Ellan at that peak would be in her late sixties today, and the name reads as a soft, slightly unusual take on the classic Ellen.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Ellanβ¦
Explore names like Ellan
Frequently Asked
What does the name Ellan mean?
It is a variant of Ellen, ultimately from the Greek Helene, tied to 'torch, light' or 'shining.'
How do you pronounce Ellan?
It is said EL-uhn /ΛΙl.Ιn/ - two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Ellan a boy or girl name?
Ellan is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Ellan?
It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the late nineteen-fifties.