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“Uncertain; often a diminutive of Cornelia, sometimes of Nell” — Estonian/Finnish and Norwegian (short form of a longer name) origin
Girl's name · #2852 in the US (2025) · Heirloom
Nella belongs to an older America first — it reached #387 back in 1881 — yet it still appears in today's records at #2852. About 4,400 girls have carried it since 1880.
Around the world: #49 in Finland (Finnish-sp.) (2025) · #93 in Czechia (2025).
Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 2 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.
Among 69 notable people named Nella:
Entertainers appear 2.15× more often than among typical names — e.g. Nella Walker, actress (1886-1971).
Similar names: Cornelia · Lillia · Nelly · Adella · Emeline · Nell
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