# Ellen

/ˈɛɫən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ellen
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a woman.

For teachers: a female given name, originally a variant of Helen, derived from Ancient Greek.

- My aunt Ellen is coming to visit us for dinner this weekend.
- Ellen was a popular name in the early twentieth century, though its frequency in birth registries has fluctuated over the decades.

### 2. river in England

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a river in the north of England.

For teachers: a river in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England, which flows into the Solway Firth.

- The River Ellen flows through the town of Maryport.
- Hydrological studies of the River Ellen have monitored the impact of agricultural runoff on the local aquatic ecosystem near the Solway Firth.

## Examples

- Ellen is my sister's name.
- The manager, Ellen, will be leading the meeting this afternoon to discuss the new project.
- While the name Ellen saw a peak in popularity during the early twentieth century, it remains a classic choice that transcends temporary naming trends.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.