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Nelle

girl name
Origin
Uncertain
Syllables
1
Peak era
1890s/1910s
Today
▬ Steady

Meaning

a short form of Eleanor, Helen, or Ellen; each has its own disputed root, Greek torch/light or a Germanic origin

The story

Read the story of Eleanor →

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Popularity, 1890–2024

peak 1890s2020s

Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Nelle peaked in the 1890s and the 1910s in nearly equal measure.

See popularity in Brazil

Popularity in Brazil

26 people · the #104,241 first name in Brazil · median age 46

Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022

When you meet Nelle

People given the name Nelle in the United States span the generations: the middle half were born anywhere from 1940 to 2025. Age is the one thing the name won't tell you.

Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.

Names that fit alongside Nelle

Elle Gale Ocie Vernie Mittie Belle

The Nelle deep dive

Written for you · $1.99 →

Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Nelle truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Nelle fits with your family’s names and surname.

Both reports, explained →

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