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Nellie

“Variant of Eleanor — The other Aenor (from Latin alia); root sense riches and fame” — Old Provencal/Latin, ultimately Germanic; Arabic light also suggested origin

Girl's name · #533 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Nellie has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #14 (1881) · 152,691 babies named Nellie all-time · 1 in 2,900 girls born in 2025.

Around the world: #95 in Sweden (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 40 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Nellies

Nellie Bly — American journalist
Nellie Kim — Soviet-Russian artistic gymnast (born 1957)
Nellie Melba — Australian opera singer (1861–1931)
Nellie Tayloe Ross — First woman state governor in the U.S
Nellie McClung — Canadian author, social activist, suffragette & politician (1873-1951)

In stories & tradition

Nellie Oleson — Little House on the Prairie
Nellie Bertram — The Office
Nellie Ellis — EastEnders

What Nellies become

Among 265 notable people named Nellie:

No single standout — notable Nellies spread across many fields.

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.