Nelle
Nelle is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Shining light or sun ray; bright one.
Origin and history
Nelle originated as a short form or variant of names such as Eleanor, Helen, or Cornelia. Historically given as an independent name in the United States, it has maintained a quiet, vintage presence throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it remains a rare but recognizable classic name choice.
Popularity in the United States
5,794 babies in the United States have been named Nelle since 1880. It ranks #2242 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1916.
States where it is most popular
- TN (25.2 %)
- GA (18.4 %)
- NC (8.5 %)
- SC (8.3 %)
- PA (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 895 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,125 |
| 1900-1910 | 735 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,201 |
| 1920-1930 | 868 |
| 1930-1940 | 282 |
| 1940-1950 | 140 |
| 1950-1960 | 91 |
| 1960-1970 | 47 |
| 1970-1980 | 17 |
| 1980-1990 | 22 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 35 |
| 2010-2019 | 151 |
| 2020-2029 | 185 |
Famous people named Nelle
- Nelle Harper Lee: Author, Novelist
Fun facts
- American author Harper Lee was born Nelle Harper Lee, using her middle name professionally while Nelle was her given first name.
- Nelle evolved in Middle English from affectionate medieval prefixing where 'mine Eleanor' became 'My Nell' or 'Nelle'.