Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Ellen” come from?

Ellen (German) comes from English Ellen, from English Helen, from French Hélène, from Latin Helena, from Ancient Greek ἑλένη, from Proto-Indo-European swel- — to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...

Ellen (German): plural of Elle; ells

Definitions

  1. plural of Elle; ells

Ancestry of “Ellen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishEllen—
2EnglishHelenAny of various papilionid butterflies of the...
3FrenchHélène—
4LatinHelena—
5Ancient Greekἑλένηtorch, firebrand; corposant, St. Elmo's fire;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanswel-to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swel- →