Given name
Ellan
“a coy woman”
Ellan is used as a given name. One American interpretation is “a coy woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “a coy woman.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1906. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ellan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 378
- 0 boys · 378 girls
- Most popular year
- 1957
- 14 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 1993. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 14 in 1957. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 478 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ellan’s family of names
Ellan has a related form in Ellane. Ellan has a related form in Ellann.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Ellan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cherlyn
“one who is dearly loved”
>99% girls
Velinda
“one who is sweet and gentle”
>99% girls
Ellen
“the shining light” · “shining light”
>99% girls
Yuette
“a capable woman”
>99% girls
Sheryl
“one who is greatly loved; a darling” · “from the bright clearing”
>99% girls
Meryl
“resembling a blackbird” · “of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Chirley
“from the bright clearing”
>99% girls
Velvet
“wearing a soft fabric; velvety”
>99% girls