Nelle Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Nelle is an English name derived from the diminutive forms of Eleanor and Helen, which mean 'bright, shining light'. Its language evolution traces back to Greek and Old French origins. The name has a warm and charming connotation, with notable literary connections, though it lacks biblical significance.
The name Nelle is most popular in Tennessee, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nelle has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Nelle' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 583rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1570th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4104th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10888th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 20144th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17023rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5499th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nelle' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nelle"
Pronunciation
/nɛl/
Origin
English
Etymology
Nelle is often considered a diminutive form of the name Eleanor or Helen, which are derived from the Old French name 'Aliénor' and the Greek name 'Helena', respectively.
Meaning
bright, shining light
Language Evolution
Helena (Greek), Eleanor (Old French), Nelle (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Nelle gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a feminine name, often used as a variant of Ellen or as a standalone name.
Variants & Derivatives
Nell, Nellie, Eleanor, Helen
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Nelle is viewed as a vintage and charming name, often associated with kindness and warmth.
Famous People
Nelle Harper Lee, author of 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Nelle Nix, American poet
Explore More Nelle Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nelle"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nelle"
"Nelle" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 583rd of 9107 | 2,625 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1570th of 9204 | 462 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4104th of 12526 | 171 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 10888th of 19264 | 37 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 20144th of 27321 | 17 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 17023rd of 35406 | 59 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5499th of 30306 | 279 |
Regional Popularity of "Nelle" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Nelle" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
52.40% 742nd/1416 |
56.56% 780th/1379 |
20.29% 480th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
52.53% 1236th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
76.96% 3453rd/4487 |
- |
87.41% 5486th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nelle"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nelle" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.