Nellie
Nellie is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Bright, shining light, or torch.
Origin and history
Nellie originated as a diminutive of names like Eleanor, Helen, or Cornelia, derived from Greek roots meaning 'torch', 'bright', or 'shining light'. It was immensely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States and remains a familiar classic name. Today, it is experiencing a gentle revival alongside other vintage nickname-names.
Popularity in the United States
152,691 babies in the United States have been named Nellie since 1880. It ranks #261 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #612.
States where it is most popular
- NC (7.1 %)
- GA (6 %)
- AL (5.9 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
- TX (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 13,761 |
| 1890-1900 | 17,285 |
| 1900-1910 | 16,339 |
| 1910-1920 | 30,879 |
| 1920-1930 | 29,689 |
| 1930-1940 | 17,703 |
| 1940-1950 | 10,207 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,360 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,409 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,479 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,112 |
| 1990-2000 | 838 |
| 2000-2010 | 971 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,859 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,800 |
Famous people named Nellie
- Nellie Bly: Journalist, Author
- Nellie Tayloe Ross: Politician, Governor
- Nellie Melba: Opera Singer
Fun facts
- Nellie was consistently among the top 20 most popular girls' names in the United States throughout the 1880s.
- It originally arose as a spoken pet form for Eleanor, Helen, and Cornelia before becoming an independent given name.