Formal names for Nell range from traditional choices like Eleanor to newer options like Nella.
If you love the idea of a daughter answering to slim, trim Nell, but want something longer for the birth certificate, this list is for you.
NELL: MINE EL
The story behind Nell is just plain fun.
Back in the day, the affectionate phrase “mine Elle” was smooshed into my Nell. That means that many an El- name could’ve become Nell.
The same thing explains why Ann became Nan.
But even without my Nell, the sound occurs in plenty of feminine names, traditional favorites, rarities, and modern innovations, too.
THE HELEN-ELEANORS
Helen and Eleanor seem like completely different names, and indeed, each claims distinctive roots.
But something funny happens over the years, and they get mixed together. That’s probably because of names like Elena. Many languages translate Helen as Elena, as yet Elena looks an awful lot like a cousin to Eleanor. The same thing happens with Ellen, which might serve as a form of Helen, or a nickname for Eleanor. Or maybe they are related after all. Kate covered a possible connection between the two names here.
Whatever the case, all of the Helen-Eleanors potentially become Nell.
ELEANOR
Capable and classic Eleanor qualifies as a nickname-rich choice, from the expected Ellie to the equally wearable Nell.
ELENA
A Disney princess and the most popular of the Helen names today, Elena seems less likely to shorten to Nell – but it could.
ELLEN
Brief and complete, Ellen requires no nickname, but Nell works well. Born Nelle Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, was named after her grandmother Ellen – with the name reversed. (She dropped Nelle and used just Harper Lee as her pen name.)
HELEN
As with Ellen, Helen seems spare, tailored, and nickname-proof. But Helen called Nell could be a delightful surprise.
HELENA
With three possible pronunciations – or more! – Helena might give some parents pause. Too bad, because it could fit right in with Sophia and Amelia. Actor Helena Bonham Carter named her daughter Nell. Bonham Carter’s mother was named Elena; her grandmother, Hélène. That makes Nell the fourth generation with some form of the name.
THE ANNS
Does this seem like a surprising category? A host of names starting with the Ann sound lend themselves to the nickname Nell.
ANIELA
The Polish form of Angela is pronounced ahn YEL uh. It could become Anya or Annie, but Nell seems like an original short form for a daring name.
ANNELIE and ANNALEE
Possible spellings abound, but this Ann-Lee smoosh puts the Nell sound smack in the middle.
ANNELIESE
Also spelled Annelise and Annalisa to name just two, this German name combines Ann and Elisabeth. Once again, that makes it easy to find a way to Nell.
ANTONELLA
Antonia and Antoinette don’t do it, but this elaborate feminine form of Anthony does, thanks to the -nella ending.
NELL IN THE MIDDLE
The Nell sound is everywhere!
AVONELLE
A vintage name with an intriguing backstory, Avonelle easily lends itself to Nell.
CORNELIA
Ancient, elaborate Cornelia could shorten to Cora or Neely, too.
DANIELLE and DANIELA
Danielle peaked in the 1980s; Daniela followed more recently. While it sounds more like yel, the letters suggest Nell, too.
FENELLA
In Irish legend, Fionnuala’s evil stepmother transformed her and her siblings into swans, cursed for 900 years. The name eventually came into Scottish and English as Fenella, a rare name that certainly gets to Nell.
JANELLE
One of many feminine forms of John, Janelle is a 1970s favorite. Pairing it with a vintage nickname would be an unconventional and intriguing choice.
NEPHELE
In Greek myth, Zeus created Nephele from a cloud. She became the mother of centaurs. Pronounced nef eh lee, there’s a hint of the Nell sound there.
PENELOPE
A favorite of recent years, Penelope comes with plenty of nicknames options. With “nel” right in the middle, no question Nell belongs on that list.
NELL AT THE TOP
A handful of names start with Nel.
NELDA
Retro Nelda brings to mind Lorna and Twyla, or other 1930s choices like Rhonda, Elda, Vida, Glynda, Gilda, and Ouida. Glenda reached the US Top 100 in the 1940s. If you have a Nelda on your family tree, Nell might be the modern update.
NELIA
It might be short for names like Cornelia, but if Delia stands on its own, why not Nelia? Nell – or maybe Nel – serves as the logical nickname.
NELLA
Nella last appeared in the US Top 1000 around 1941. Since then, similar names have taken a generation by storm. Hello, Ella, Bella, and Stella. Just like parents now choose Tessa instead of Theresa, Nella might make a more appealing formal name for Nell to many.
NOELLE
Contract the N and the el, and this Christmas-inspired choice leads to Nell. Noelia and other Noel- names work well, too.
SURNAME NAMES
CONNELLY
An Irish surname name with Nell baked right in.
DONNELLY
If Connelly is an option, then Donnelly might work, too.
What are your favorite formal names for Nell? Or would you stick with Nell on its own?
This post was originally published on June 8, 2012. It was revised substantially and re-posted on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 and again on March 25, 2021.
My aunt’s name is N@ncy Eliz@beth Lorett@ L., and her grandfather called her Nell, both as a nickname for Elizabeth [the name my gramma planned on calling her (she’s now Beth)], and as a play on her initials. I’ve always liked that.
Because of the ‘mine’ blending origin, I think that any name starting with El- could have the nickname Nell, just as any An- could have Nan, and any Ed- could have Ned.
My first thought was Prunella.
My great-grandmother was an Aniela, and it was on our short list if we had a second daughter. We probably would have gone for Anya as a nickname, but I like the idea of Nell too!
(Incidentally, my other Polish great-gran was Waleria. Angela and Valerie — if you translate the names, they could have been sorority girls born in 1990 instead of farmers’ daughters born in 1890.)
I like Nell quite a bit and would use her as a nickname for Petronella, if I could. Penelope is lovely but getting too popular for my comfort. I’m going to go super obscure if I ever have a 4th, I think. And growing up with 3 Aunt Helens, while I’m fond of the Aunts and think the name is lovely, three is already too many for my comfort.
Way to go, Nell! 😀
I met someone named Stanelle recently who went by Nell.
I’ve only recently started to like Nell/ie, and mostly because of the song “Far Away” by Ingrid Michaelson. She sings one line: “I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls, Little Ella and Nelly and Faye” (I prefer Luella, Nelly, and Faye). Those are adorable names for sisters, especially as I’m in love with Lu- names and Faye. Nell is mostly favored by association.
As far as Nell standing on her own or as a nickname, I think she works on her own…for someone else’s Nell. I’m more likely to use a longer form for the birth certificate. And from your list, Eleanor, Annalee, and Annelise are lovely. Annalee especially would make a good tribute to my husband’s side (he comes from Lees).
However the name that really grabbed my attention was Nelda. My grandmother’s name was Donelda (a feminine form of Donald). She went by Donna, but Donelda could be a sweet way for me to get to Nell. But probably not, as even Grandma thought her name was a bit of a clunker…
Finally, my absolute favorite name on the list: Penelope. This name has been climbing my list of favorites lately. The only problem…my favored nickname for her is Pepita.
Nelida, Donatella, and Petronella from the comments are also cute. And I grew up with a neighbor named Janelle; when not using her full name they called her Nellie or Jelly.
My contribution to the list: Elanorelle. Very similar to Eleanor, but with major Tolkien nerdiness attached.
Well, I adore the nickname Nell for Eleanor, Penelope and Helena…I had thought of the first two but Helena never crossed my radar, so thanks, Abby! I think Nell is ready for a resurgence as a stand alone, a la Tess/Tessa and the Ellie sisters.
Interesting aside on namesakes: singer Nelly Furtado was named for Soviet gymnast Nellie Kim (according to Wikipedia, at any rate). So two votes there for Nelly/ie as a stand-alone.
For an unusual route to Nell, my husbands’ cousin takes her nickname from Nelissa (as in, Melissa with an ‘N’). Not sure as to the etymology of that one (if any), but another option.
My grandmother was baptized Anna, but she went by Nellie for most of her life.
Helen is my favorite way to get to Nell, but I also know a Manuela (Lovely!) who goes by Nellie.
It’s totally contrarian, but maybe Lena (and other -lene names) could also use Nell as a nickname? That way you could honor “Gramma Marlene”, but still give the child a retro-cool nickname.
Oh, or Janel/Janell/Janelle or a smoosh for Anne Elizabeth or Jane Elinor or something like that.