A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Nellie since 1880
Babies named Nellie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nellie's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 13,761 |
| 1890s | 17,285 |
| 1900s | 16,339 |
| 1910s | 30,879 |
| 1920s | 29,689 |
| 1930s | 17,703 |
| 1940s | 10,207 |
| 1950s | 5,360 |
| 1960s | 2,409 |
| 1970s | 1,479 |
| 1980s | 1,112 |
| 1990s | 838 |
| 2000s | 971 |
| 2010s | 1,859 |
| 2020s | 2,800 |
Meaning & origin
Nellie has a long history as a familiar and affectionate name, first recorded in U.S. data in 1880. It reached its peak rank of 1st in 1881, and after a long decline, has been on a rising trajectory since 1993. By 2025, it ranks 533rd, with about 1 in 2,835 girls receiving the name. Nellie is most popular in Maine, North Dakota, and South Dakota, reflecting its enduring charm in northern states. Its revival likely stems from a broader resurgence of vintage names with a sweet, old-fashioned feel. As a pet form of Eleanor and Ellen, Nellie carries the meaning 'bright, shining one' and has remained a beloved choice for parents seeking a classic yet friendly name.
Nellie is a diminutive of Eleanor or Ellen, both of which derive from the Old French name Aliénor, introduced to England by the Normans. The ultimate origin is debated: it may come from the Occitan phrase alia Aenor (meaning 'other Aenor') or from the Greek helene ('torch, bright'). The pet form Nellie emerged in the 18th century and became widely used as an independent given name.
Where Nellie is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nellie” around the world
Where Nellie lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
13
babies in 2025
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Quebec
28
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nel, Nell
Variants: Nelly
Sibling names for Nellie
Names that share Nellie's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Lily, Mae, Daisy, Rose, Cora, Della, Essie, Eula, Fannie, Alline, Altha, Ammie, Arlie, Bettie, Dessie, Dollie, Effie, Exie, Floy, Gertie, Kattie, Leatha, Lennie, Leota, Lessie, Lettie, Linnie, Louella, Lovie, Luella, Mayme, Mertie, Ocie, Oma, Ottie, Ova, Rennie, Tessie, Tillie, Tressa, Tressie, Vergie, Virgie, Zella, Aggie, Arrie, Avie, Carma, Carry, Classie, Cleda, Clemmie, Collie, Cordie, Davie, Delcie, Delpha, Elzie, Emmer, Etha, Fleta, Gennie, Glennie, Idell, Kittie, Launa, Letty, Libbie, Liddie, Loma, Lonie, Ludie, Lyda, Mallie, Mammie, Mellie, Monnie, Myrtie, Nonie, Onie, Onnie, Osie, Queenie, Ressie, Rossie, Sadye, Sudie, Tennie, Vallie, Vennie, Verdie, Versie, Vertie, Voncile, Willia, Altie, Bama, Beadie, Besse, Beuna, Birda, Birtie, Bonna, Channie, Clella, Clydia, Colie, Dellar, Dellie, Dicie, Dillie, Donie, Doshie, Dossie, Ebbie, Edrie, Estes, Etty, Fannye, Flonnie, Floye, Hessie, Jinnie, Lella, Lemmie, Lesta, Letti, Lissie, Littie, Loetta, Lollie, Lota, Lovey, Lular, Lulla, Lutie, Macel, Mada, Madgie, Matie, Mattye, Mennie, Metta, Monie, Nealie, Nelma, Nonnie, Omie, Orene, Rubbie, Saddie, Salli, Samella, Sayde, Sussie, Tinnie, Toye, Vadie, Vangie, Vannie, Vassie, Vicie, Virda, Virdie, Wanza, Zollie, Alcie, Arkie, Attie, Azzie, Blannie, Bonnell, Cannie, Clema, Clemie, Cliffie, Climmie, Clotee, Cornie, Cressie, Darcus, Dellia, Dezzie, Dollye, Elcie, Elfie, Eppie, Eular, Fonnie, Fronnie, Girtie, Hermie, Hetty, Icie, Jemmie, Lallie, Lattie, Leita, Lema, Lonia, Luddie, Ludell, Lulie, Magie, Maie, Manie, Merdis, Merlie, Mirtie, Modell, Mollye, Necie, Okla, Pairlee, Pernie, Tassie, Tiney, Venie, Vercie, Wessie, Zellie, Clytee, Elvy, Pallie, Runell, Adie, Alsie, Axie, Bennye, Berda, Cenia, Clessie, Cleva, Clevie, Clista, Delsy, Dicy, Earsie, Eddis, Eddith, Ellenie, Elnita, Ermie, Eulamae, Eulla, Eunie, Gretna, Gustie, Hattye, Heddy, Ibbie, Lawrie, Lealer, Lenzie, Lillar, Lodie, Loella, Lummie, Luvena, Maidie, Mimie, Minie, Nattie, Netty, Nillie, Otie, Parrie, Radie, Rebie, Recie, Rissie, Sibbie, Suda, Swannie, Tacie, Tannie, Therma, Verbie, Vincie, Virtie, Wavie, Zennie
Brothers: Charlie, Frank, Harry, Willie, George, Bennie, Dewey, Roscoe, Abe, Alvah, Artie, Audie, Ike, Louie, Lue, Merle, Otha, Ozie, Willis, Alvie, Boyce, Cleve, Coley, Dennie, Durwood, Earnie, Elgie, Ezell, Isom, Lige, Mannie, Minor, Obie, Ossie, Rollie, Rosco, Simmie, Vinnie, Welton, Ab, Alf, Arbie, Arnel, Arvie, Bascom, Billey, Boss, Budd, Buell, Buren, Captain, Clide, Colbert, Curlee, Earley, Erby, Estil, Guss, Handy, Harrel, Harve, Herby, Jiles, Leman, Lonzie, Mackey, Oddie, Odus, Olie, Orrie, Rommie, Tollie, Virgel, Wallie, Watt, Alvey, Anner, Arby, Burley, Delmus, Eddye, Elzy, Ferdie, Ferman, Irl, Jetty, Lealand, Lewie, Limmie, Meldon, Milbert, Obbie, Odies, Okey, Onis, Orlie, Sollie, Ulis, Verdon, Wadell, Hulan, Mosie, Buryl, Byard, Cloy, Culver, Edman, Forney, Gid, Gurnie, Harl, Jhonnie, Kinnie, Lennell, Luie, Ogle, Oley, Oney, Orby, Tunis, Zebbie
