See the results of this poll: What do you think of these?!
Respondents: 89 (This poll is closed)
- Sloane Ellen : 3 (2%)
- Lillian Ellen : 12 (9%)
- Olive Ellen : 24 (19%)
- Vera Ellen : 30 (23%)
- Ryli Ellen : 2 (2%)
- Nyla Ellen : 5 (4%)
- Naomi Ellen: 53 (41%)
Meaning trumps flow in my book. I wouldn’t let it affect which first name you use. If you really love one name in particular, you should use it, even if it doesn’t flow well with [name]Ellen[/name]. 
I think the first-name/surname flow is much more important than the first/middle one.
I agree, especially since [name]Ellen[/name] has so much significance for your family.
Incidentally I think a great many names would sound fine with [name]Ellen[/name]. Any three+ syllable first name, especially one with a lot of vowel sounds, would work well (except the ones that end with A, as that blurs a bit).
Totally random selection from lots of styles:
[name]Adelaide[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Cassidy[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Dorothy[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Flannery[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Indigo[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Juniper[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Marjorie[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Meredith[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Rosamund[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Serenity[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Valerie[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Waverly[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] is gorgeous!
I’m considering [name]Ellen[/name] for a middle too- because it’s a family name. It’s not the easiest name to work around, but I agree with previous posters that when you are using a name that means something to you and your family, flow is a secondary consideration.
Some of my combos are
[name]Clothilde[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Juno[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Minerva[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Apolline[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Marigold[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
[name]Magnolia[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]
Meaning is far more important than flow. That said, [name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] is meaningful, pretty, and flows nicely. I voted for [name]Naomi[/name].
We used [name]Susan[/name] for a middle for our second daughter, to honor my mom. It doesn’t flow well with most names, but we agree that meaning is more important than flow. And yes, the only time the first/middle combo is used is typically when kiddo is in trouble with mom or dad. So it really isn’t that important.
Though to qualify my last statement, we do call our middle child [name]Madelyn[/name] [name]Esther[/name] a lot, simply because it sounds so gorgeous. The other two, we barely ever use their middle names in conversation.
I wouldn’t worry about flow if [name]Ellen[/name] is that important. My middle name rhymes with my last name, but I love middle name bc it’s a family name. I agree with what all the last posters said about this, and how hardly anyone knows your middle name. I think [name]Naomi[/name] and [name]Olive[/name] are both really pretty and sound the best with [name]Ellen[/name].
[name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] - it’s got enough syllables to work.
[name]Olive[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] - [name]Olive[/name] is so unique and uncommon, that [name]Ellen[/name] balances it out really well.
Another vote for [name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]. It’s lovely.
My second choice would be [name]Vera[/name], I think.
Although I totally dislike [name]Olive[/name], it flows well with [name]Ellen[/name]. [name]Vera[/name] also pairs well
[name]Olive[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] kind of sounds like saying I love [name]Ellen[/name].
I think [name]Naomi[/name] is your best bet
I love both [name]Naomi[/name] and [name]Vera[/name] although I feel [name]Naomi[/name] flows better with [name]Ellen[/name].
Ooh, [name]Ellen[/name] is my first name I think it’s a winner, even if it flows a tad awkwardly. I also think it sounds best with a three syllable FN. [name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] is amazing, but even [name]Lillian[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] works (though the -n endings make it a tad repetitive).
I voted for [name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name], as I think it flows the best. I’m sure you’ve already thought about this and ruled it out, but it is possible to honour a family name with a version you love better. For instance, I would consider honouring the family name [name]Beverly[/name] with [name]Everly[/name]. [name]Ellen[/name] could be [name]Ella[/name], [name]Elle[/name], [name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Elena[/name], etc.
[name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] is my favourite on your poll and I think it flows the best. Coming in second is [name]Vera[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]. Family significance is more important than the flow of fn and mn. [name]Do[/name] all of your first names flow well with your surname? That’s the most important issue as far as flow is concerned. Not many people are going to know the mn anyway or use it in everyday life.
I voted for [name]Vera[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]. I think [name]Vera[/name] is a great classic, familiar, yet uncommon name that sounds great with [name]Ellen[/name].
I really liked [name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] and [name]Vera[/name] [name]Ellen[/name]!
I voted for [name]Naomi[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] and [name]Olive[/name] [name]Ellen[/name] but then I saw [name]Lillian[/name] which I recently have been really liking so I would have voted for that if I had saw it, however I do feel it’s a little awkward with [name]Ellen[/name] as they both have a N at the end.