• IPA: /ˈɛl.ən/

ellen (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Zeal.
2. (obsolete) Strength; courage.
3. (theology) Strength vouchsafed; comfort; grace.

• IPA: /ˈɛl.ən/

1. A female given name.
   • c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene iv]:

     And how doth my cousin, your bedfellow? and your fairest daughter and mine, my god-daughter Ellen?

   • 1928 Agatha Christie: The Mystery of the Blue Train

     "Is her name Ellen or Helen, Miss Viner? I thought - "

     Miss Viner closed her eyes.

     "I can sound my h's, dear, as well as anyone, but Helen is not a suitable name for a servant. I don't know what the mothers in the lower classes are coming to nowadays."

• German: Ellen