How Many People Are Named Ellen?

Complete statistics for the name Ellen: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Ellen
Very Rare
Middle English

Ellen means 'noble' and has been around since the Middle Ages, making it a rare gem among female names today. That's just 1 in 2,161 Americans who go by Ellen, giving it a unique charm. With most people named Ellen being over 60, it definitely feels like an old-school classic.

~1,147
Living in US
1 in 288,971
Americans
1951
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Noble
🌐
Origin
Middle English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 3
Personality Traits
Noble Compassionate Wise
3
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 3 are believed to be creative, expressive, and optimistic.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

152,736
Worldwide Bearers
#976
Global Rank
🇨🇦 Canada
19,186
🇳🇴 Norway
17,534
🇧🇪 Belgium
13,587
🇩🇰 Denmark
11,680
🇸🇪 Sweden
9,588
🇮🇩 Indonesia
9,349
🇮🇪 Ireland
8,507
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
6,895
🇦🇺 Australia
6,096
🇿🇲 Zambia
4,998

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
311 (0%)
♀ Female
152,425 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 79
13,002
Would be under 30 (5%)
40,317
Would be 30–60 (15%)
222,063
Would be over 60 (81%)

All 275,382 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1951

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
79
Modern Appeal
21
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Ellen Through the Generations

Ellen peaked in popularity back in 1951 when 5,956 babies were given this name, marking a high point in its history. Today, there are 152,736 Ellens living in the United States, with the majority, 81%, being over 60 years old. This significant age skew paints a picture of a name that's deeply rooted in older generations, reflecting its status as a classic choice from decades past.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 36,358
Pennsylvania 17,653
Illinois 13,929
Massachusetts 13,279
California 13,094
Ohio 12,328
New Jersey 10,391
Michigan 9,957
Texas 8,100
Wisconsin 7,020

⭐ Famous People Named Ellen

Ellen is a feminine given name. It was the 609th most popular name in the U.S. and the 17th in Sweden in 2004.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Ellen

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Ellen's Middle English roots

📄 About the Name Ellen

How Many People Have the Name Ellen?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,147 people in the United States currently share the name Ellen. That works out to roughly 1 in every 288,971 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Ellen a Common or Rare Name?

Ellen is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Ellen Mean?

Ellen means "noble" and comes from Middle English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Ellen in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Ellen Most Popular?

The name Ellen reached peak popularity in 1951, with 5,956 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Ellen?

Approximately 1,147 people named Ellen live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,147. That works out to roughly 1 in 288,971 Americans.

Is Ellen a rare name?

Ellen is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 288,971 Americans has this name.

What does the name Ellen mean?

Ellen means "noble" and comes from Middle English origins.

Is Ellen more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Ellen are male and 100% are female.

When was Ellen most popular?

Ellen peaked in 1951 with 5,956 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US1,147
All-Time Births1,147
1 in X1 in 288,971
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age79
Peak Year1951
World Rank#976
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.