Thank you!
yes, Ellen is from helen... closer to the greek spelling, elana (where the first E in word tends to get a (h)--givng us Helen(a)

but Ellen is a name in its right, and no shorter, and ellie.. is a nick name for ellen.

elle is from the french for girl.. but its sound like EL-- and since we too tend to put an (h) in front of El-- it become Hel..which sounds like hell!

Len is guys name (or nickname.) leena is sometimes used, but rarely for helen.

belle and beauty-- thank you... but alas, i am neither.. i don't need to go about with a brown paper bag over my face.. i don't 'knock 'em dead" at fiftly paces.. but i am no beauty. (but i have great hair, and great skin, and beautiful blue eyes, so don't get the idea i am lacking in self esteem! i don't need to claim beauty.. i have other qualities, as valuable..)