Ellen what are your thoughts?

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What do you think of the name Ellen?

It sounds like a Victorian maid to me I’m afraid. I do prefer it to Helen though which I’ve always found ugly. Eleanor is nice.

I had an auntie Nellie who was a lovely soul. As a child and growing up l would often see her surname on an envelope or whatever but with initial E. Confused me but presumed she must have a first name beginning with E and Nellie must be her second name, as all our family (Irish) seem be called by our middle names.
Later found out Nellie is a common nickname for Ellen.
She was lovely though, so if you don't mind her getting Nellie or Nell ,go for it.

I think it’s a lovely name, OP.

It's a bit dowdy

I prefer Eleanor.

My scouse Nana’s name
it’s lovely

What about Elaine?

Cute

Classic. I love it.

Lovely it’s my DDs middle name after her granny whose NN was Elsie

It’s the magnolia paint of names.

Lovely name, it surprises me that it's not more popular.

I know one in her 20s - a lovely and lively young lady

It’s lovely

Cute

I love it so much I called my daughter Ellen a long time ago. It has worn well, though she's mostly called Ellie or Nell these days, which are both fine.

I'm 30 and an Ellen. Surprisingly, there were 3 in my year in school. I don't shorten it, but do get called Helen sometimes (usually over 60s) and don't bother correcting them!

quite like it, but as someone else has said there's a lot of Ell names around still. Could be in a class of Ellies and Ellas and then it just gets confusing

Love it. The only negative is the plethora of Ellie, Ella type names over the last few years.

It’s okay, bit bland. Sounds like someone who drops their H’s saying Helen to me!

I have a similar name. I hate it.

Love this name.

I like it.

I've never taught an Ellen.

Frumpy and old fashioned

I like it on several levels. It's unusual without being weird, I like the way it sounds, and for me it has some personal resonance as one of my great-grandmothers was an Ellen (Ellen Amelia to be precise). I've only met one - she's in her 30s and a very nice person. She did say she gets called Ellie a lot, so it might be one to avoid if you don't like that shortening. I don't think you'd get Nell nowadays unless you specifically asked for it.