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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen (Greek/Old French, 'shining light' is a common gloss for Helen)
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- NEL
Nell is an English name, pronounced NEL, and it began as a pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen. Helen comes from Greek, and 'shining light' is a common gloss for it. It's one short syllable, so it's easy to say and spell.
Meaning & Origin of Nell
Meaning: Pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen (Greek/Old French, 'shining light' is a common gloss for Helen).
Origin: English.
How to Pronounce Nell
NELIPA /nɛl/
Popularity of Nell
Nell ranked #144 in 1886, when 175 babies were given the name. By 2024 it stood at #1460, with 150 babies named Nell that year.
Names Like Nell
These names have followed a similar path to Nell in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Nell mean?
Pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen (Greek/Old French, ‘shining light’ is a common gloss for Helen).
How do you pronounce Nell?
Nell is pronounced NEL (IPA: /nɛl/).
Is Nell a popular name right now?
Nell peaked at #144 in 1886 and is ranked #1460 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Nell Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Nell, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Nell? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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