Re: Ellen is the one that comes to mind first (m)
in reply to a message by Joiya
I think it's meh. Not bad, but not terribly great either. I knew an Ellen in college, who was my age, so in her mid-fifties now. Also knew one in high school, a little older than me, so fifties again. It was in the top hundred from 1880 through 1961, with the exception of a few years during that time when it dipped down into the low 100s. So it's never really been an uncommon name, and I think the reason you don't see it nowadays is the same reason you don't see Barbara or Susan or Donna on babies or children--it's dated.