Nellie
Top 1000
About Nellie
This sweet nickname name has seen a recent revival in the US, breaking the Top 1000 in 2019 for the first time in 40 years. By 2024, it became one of the fastest rising girl names, chasing sister name Eleanor up the charts, spurred on by the rise of other vintage gems like Margot, Millie, Willa, and Lottie.
Nellie is an elaboration of Nell, a medieval diminutive of names starting with El, such as Eleanor and Ellen, though it equally works for Penelope, Antonella, and more. It may have arisen from the affectionate phrase "mine El" which was later reinterpreted as "my Nel", much like "mine Anne" became "my Nan" and then "Nancy".
Nellie is an international choice, well-used throughout Europe. She is one of the top names in England and Wales and Sweden, while succinct spelling Nelly is also popular in Czechia and the UK. Over in the US, Nellie was given to around 590 girls, and featured in the Top 600.
Pronounced NEL-ee.
As of October 2026, Nellie ranked #533 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #14 in 1881, Nameberry popularity #523.
Editor: Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,303 | 183 | 102.4 |
| 2015 | #1,245 | 197 | 110.4 |
| 2016 | #1,222 | 202 | 114 |
| 2017 | #1,227 | 196 | 113.5 |
| 2018 | #1,069 | 239 | 140.5 |
| 2019 | #863 | 311 | 185.3 |
| 2020 | #840 | 325 | 201 |
| 2021 | #743 | 384 | 234 |
| 2022 | #664 | 445 | 271.3 |
| 2023 | #615 | 485 | 302.3 |
| 2024 | #521 | 591 | 364.8 |
| 2025 | #533 | 567 | 352.8 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Nellie.
- Margo
- Bea
- Greta
- Tillie
- Lottie
- Marnie
- Lou
- Hattie
- Minnie
- Dottie
- Effie
- Tess
- Maxine
- Polly
- Betty
- Pippa
- Bonnie
- Della
- Penny
- Nell
Nellie on lists
Famous Nellies
- Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell)
Australian operatic soprano
- Nellie Bly
pen name of American journalist Elizabeth Jane Cochrane
- Nellie Vladimirovna Kim
Tajik Soviet Olympic gymnast
- Nellie Letitia McClung
Canadian feminist, author and politician
- Nellie Farren
English actress and singer
- Nell Marie "Nellie" McKay
American singer,songwriter and actress
- Nellie Tayloe Ross
first woman governor (Wyoming) in the U.S.
- Eleanor Towzey "Nellie" Stewart
Australian actress and singer
Nellie in pop culture
- Nellie Forbush
character in musical "South Pacific"
- Nellie O'Malley
character in the American Girl series
- Nellie Oleson
character on TV's "Little House on the Prairie"
- Nellie
character in movie "Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure"
- Nellie Turner
character in "This Golden Land" by Barbara Wood
- Nellie Ellis
character on British soap "EastEnders"
- Eleanour Donna "Nellie" Bertram
character on TV's "The Office"
- Nellie Pledge
character in the Granada Television series "Nearest and Dearest"
- Nellie Brie
character in animated movie "An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster"
- "Nellie the Elephant
" 1956 song by Mandy Miller and animated TV series
- Nellie Boswell
character on TV's "Bread"
- "Nellie
" boat in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"
- Nellie's Southern Kitchen
Kevin Jonas Sr. restaurant in Belmont, NC
- "Whoa
Nellie," a phrase
- Nellie
Nick Nelson's dog on Netflix' Heartstopper
- Eleanor "Nellie" Crain
character in series "The Haunting of Hill House"
- Negative Nellie
Phrase