Where does “Ellen” come from?
Ellen is an English diminutive of Helen, from French Hélène, Latin Helena, and Ancient Greek Ἑλένη, of uncertain ultimate origin.
Ancestry of “Ellen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Helen | Any of various papilionid butterflies of the... |
| 2 | French | Hélène | — |
| 3 | Latin | Helena | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἑλένη | torch, firebrand; corposant, St. Elmo's fire;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swel- | to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,... |
Words derived from “Ellen”