This post is dedicated to Ellen Kander. A beautiful bearer of the name “Ellen.”
I’m sure the woman in the photograph needs no introduction. But she graces today’s post because we have something in common.
Of curse, it’s the name “Ellen.”
Ellen DeGeneres may be the most famous “Ellen” in the world. She might be the most famous “Ellen” in history.
That’s not so hard to do, Dear Readers.
No offense, but “Ellen” is just not a name that screams fame and fortune.
To put it simply, I just don’t like my name.
As a kid, I just didn’t think it suited me. It seemed ordinary, prosaic and bland.
And as an adult, I have seen no evidence that I was wrong.
But I wanted to be fair.
So recently, I looked it up the name “Ellen” on line and here’s what I found.
The name “Ellen” is derived from the Greek word “helios” and thus it means “ray of light” or “sunbeam.”
From ancient Greek mythology “Helen”- another derivation- was a name made famous by the beautiful Queen of Sparta. It was her legendary abduction by the love-smitten Paris that led to the Trojan War.
(If Edith Hamilton is not your favorite author, take a look at this version.)
And here is the name “Ellen” around the world. (I hate it when people call me “Helen,” but invariably the French, Spanish and Italians always do.)
OTHER LANGUAGES/CULTURES: Shelena (African American), Helena, Helene (Ancient Greek), Elaine (Arthurian Romance), Elena (Bulgarian), Helena, Jelena, Jela, Jelka (Croatian), Helena, Alena, Lenka (Czech), Elin, Helen, Helena, Helene, Eli, Ella, Lena, Lene (Danish), Heleen, Helena, Heleentje (Dutch), Helena, Jelena, Leena (Estonian), Eliina, Elina, Helena, Ella, Elli, Heleena, Heli, Leena (Finnish), Hélène (French), Elene (Georgian), Elena, Helena, Helene, Alena, Lena, Lene, Leni (German), Elena, Eleni, Elli, Lena (Greek), Helen, Helena, Helene (Greek Mythology), Heléna (Hungarian), Helena (Icelandic), Léan (Irish), Elena, Ileana (Italian), Elīna, Helēna, Jeļena, Jelena (Latvian), Elena, Jelena (Lithuanian), Elena (Macedonian), Elin, Helen, Helena, Helene, Eli, Ella, Lena, Lene (Norwegian), Helena, Lena (Polish), Helena, Lena (Portuguese), Elena, Ileana, Ilinca, Lenuța (Romanian), Elena, Yelena, Alyona, Lena (Russian), Elene (Sardinian), Jelena, Jela, Jelka (Serbian), Elena, Helena, Alena, Jela, Lenka (Slovak), Helena, Jelena, Alena, Alenka, Jelka (Slovene), Elena, Ileana (Spanish), Elin, Elina, Helen, Helena, Helene, Ella, Lena (Swedish), Olena, Lesya (Ukrainian), Elen, Elin (Welsh)
Good news from Sweden, however. There the name “Ellen” is seventeenth in popularity.
(Here’s a pretty “Elin.”)
But according to Wikipedia, the name “Ellen” is 666th in popularity in the United States.
666?
Hmm.
It’s been two First Ladies’ names.
Chester A. Arthur and Woodrow Wilson’s wives were both named Ellen.
Ho hum.
The name “Ellen” isn’t real popular in television or movies, either.
Take a look at these lists and tell me if your favorite character is on them.
Characters named ELLEN from television
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Characters named ELLEN from movies
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I must admit that I dig the “Ripley” reference. She rocked.
As for literature, I’ve only run across two memorable “Ellens” in all my reading.
First there was long-suffering, sainted Ellen O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.
Here’s Barbara O’Neil.
If memory serves, the Margaret Mitchell described Ellen O’Hara as a “pillar of strength, a fount of wisdom, the one person who knew the answers to everything.”
Ellen O’Hara was portrayed as self-sacrificing, always patient, kind, hard-working and bound to duty instead of love.
To my thirteen year old mind, she sounded dreary as all get out.
I much preferred- and identified with- Scarlett.
But my next encounter with a heroine of great lit was a little different.
I did love- and pity- Edith Wharton’s wonderful and fabulously tragic heroine of The Age of Innocence– Countess Ellen Olenska.
Here’s Martin Scorsese’s version of this scandalous Ellen.
Small Collecting World Sidebar: I happen to own a first edition The Age of Innocence. When Michele Pfeiffer got married, her husband, David E. Kelley, presented her with a first edition as a wedding present. I like the way that man thinks.
I’ll end this post with an official chart.
Popularity Over Time: How Many Girls Have Been Named Ellen
A few facts about the girl’s name Ellen:
- Records indicate that 270,682 girls in the United States have been named Ellen since 1880.
- The greatest number of people were given this name in 1951, when 5,929 people in the U.S. were given the name Ellen. Those people are now 67 years old.
That would be me, I’m afraid.
But no matter how banal I find it, it looks like I’m stuck with “Ellen.” Too late in the day to change it now.
(But I’m pretty sure I’m a “Scarlett” at heart.)
I have always felt the same way about my name. I have always imagined my self as an Eliott or a Phillip or even my middle name Alan.
But I have always liked the name Ellen. It always sounded smart and a little sarcastic both in a good way. I married a Deidra, which I am told means Celtic Princess. But she is smart and sarcastic and I have enjoyed her wicked intellligence for over 45 years.
My dad named “Ben” always wanted to be a “Barry.” Go figure. I guess the grass is always greener. Remember Kimberly Castle? Now that was my idea of a pretty name.