Nell
Nell Origin and Meaning
Nell, once a nickname for Helen, Ellen, or Eleanor, is a sweet old-fashioned charmer that is fashionably used today in its own right. While Nell is perfectly in tune with contemporary vintage name style, it hasn't taken off the way some of its sisters have and so maintains an air of distinction. Use Nell or Nellie as a short for any name from Eleanor to Penelope or just name her Nell.
Nell was the pet name Franklin D. Roosevelt called his wife Eleanor (along with Babs), the famous Little Nell in Dickens' Old Curiosity Shop was Elinor, and the infamous mistress of Charles II, Nell Gwynne, was born Eleanor as well.
Nell was the belle of the ball in the US back in the late 19th century but has been off the charts since 1956. Meanwhile across the pond in England and Wales, it a much more on-trend choice, currently in the Top 300.
Sister name Nellie has been rising faster however, and entered the Top 100 in the UK for the first time in 2023. In the US, it reached #611 in a recent year, which might make Nell feel more popular than it is.
Jodie Foster played the title character of the 1994 movie Nell, and Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton named their daughter Nell, keeping the family tradition of names related to Helen.
- Nell Rank in US Top 1000
- Nell Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
- Names Similar to Nell
- Famous People Named Nell
- The name Nell in Pop Culture
- International Variations of the name Nell
- The name Nell in Nameberry Blog Posts
- The name Nell in Nameberry Forums
Nell Rank in US Top 1000
Nell Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Popularity of the name Nell
20 Names Similar to Nell
Famous People Named Nell
- Eleanor "Nell" GwynEnglish actress and mistress
- Laura Elizabeth "Little Nell" CampbellAustralian actress and singer
- Nell Ruth CarterAmerican singer and actress
- Nell Rose HudsonBritish actress
- Nell Tiger FreeEnglish actress and singer
- Nell Blair Walden BlaineAmerican painter
- Nell BrydenAmerican singer
- Nell Mary DunnEnglish playwright
- Nell FreudenbergerAmerican novelist
- Tracey Jane "Nell" McAndrewEnglish glamour model
- Nell McCaffertyIrish journalist and playwright
- Nell MescalIrish singer and sister of Paul Mescal
- Nell O'DayAmerican actress and equestrian
- Nell RankinAmerican operatic mezzo,soprano
- Nell Shipman (born Helen FosterBarham), Canadian actress
- Ragnhild "Nell" Westgaard SiglandNorwegian singer of Theatre of Tragedy
- Scottie Nell HughesAmerican political commentator
- Nell Burtondaughter of Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton
- Nell Gorman (b. 2009)son of actor Burn Gorman
- Nell Elizabeth Kennedy (b. 2015)daughter of politician Patrick Kennedy
The name Nell in Pop Culture
- Nell Trent aka Little Nellmain character in Charles Dickens' "The Old Curiosity Shop"
- Nell Kelltymain character in movie "Nell"
- Nell Bedworthcharacter in movie "It's a Boy Girl Thing"
- Nell Jonescharacter on TV's "NCIS: Los Angeles"
- Nell Turbodycharacter on TV's "Rescue Me"
- Nellodee "Nell" character in Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age, or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer"
- Nell McLaughlincharacter in "My friend Flicka" by Mary O'Hara
- Nell Fenwickcharacter in the "Dudley Do,Right" segments of animated series "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show"
- Nell Rebecchicharacter on Australian soap opera "Neighbours"
- Nell Stonemain character in "Euphoria" by Lily King, inspired by the life of Margaret Mead
International Variations of the name Nell
- NeileIrish
- NelaIrish
- NelyaRussian
- NeilaIrish
- NiallaIrish
The name Nell in Nameberry Blog Posts
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