Girl · #1,263 in 2026

Nelly

Nelly and Nellie are female given names, also used as nicknames, which are derived from the names Helen, Ellen, Petronella, Danielle, Cornelia, Eleanor, Janelle, Chanelle, Penelope, Elizabeth, Rachel, Natalie or Noelia.

  • English
  • Swedish
  • French
  • German
Current Rank
#1,263
Peak Rank
#596 (2007)
Total Babies
8K
5-Yr Trend
+38%
1882
First Year
2026
Last Year
2007
Peak Year
#596
Peak Rank
8K
Total Count
136
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Nelly

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Nelly and Nellie are female given names, also used as nicknames, which are derived from the names Helen, Ellen, Petronella, Danielle, Cornelia, Eleanor, Janelle, Chanelle, Penelope, Elizabeth, Rachel, Natalie or Noelia.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
  • Swedish
  • French
  • German

The Story of Nelly

American parents first put Nelly on the record books as a baby girl name in 1882, with 10 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 208 Nellys were born — ranking #1,205 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 20% of all recorded Nellys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,263 among baby girl names with 183 births, rising sharply (+38% over the past five years). In total, more than 8K Nellys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Nelly

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Nelly. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Nelly

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nelly is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nelly

What does the name Nelly mean?
Nelly and Nellie are female given names, also used as nicknames, which are derived from the names Helen, Ellen, Petronella, Danielle, Cornelia, Eleanor, Janelle, Chanelle, Penelope, Elizabeth, Rachel, Natalie or Noelia.
What is the origin of the name Nelly?
Nelly has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English, Swedish, French, German.
How popular is Nelly in 2026?
In 2026, Nelly ranks #1,263 among girls' names in the U.S., with 183 babies given the name that year.
When was Nelly most popular?
Nelly reached its peak popularity in 2007, ranking #596 that year with 208 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Nelly most popular?
Nelly has historically been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nelly.
Is Nelly a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Nelly is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Nelly?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nelly include Alena, Glynis, Michell. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Nelly?
Common variants and related forms of Nelly include Aliénor, Cora, Cornelia, Elaina, Elaine, Elea. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

Similar Names

👧
Alena
Peak #596
👧
Glynis
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👧
Michell
Peak #596
👧
Karlie
Peak #596
👧
Jazmyn
Peak #596
👧
Zaylee
Peak #596
👧
Cinda
Peak #597
👧
Ellis
Peak #597

About the name Nelly

Nelly is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1882 and has accumulated 8K births in the dataset. Nelly's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #596. Use the chart and map above to compare Nelly's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.