Nelle
Fact sheet
- Name
- Nelle
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 2
The first name Nelle belongs to the female names and represents a historical diminutive and pet form of the names Eleanor and Helen. This form was already common in the Middle Ages. The exact origins of the name Eleanor, however, are not clearly defined.
What does the name Nelle mean?
Nelle is, like Nell, a diminutive that was used in the Middle Ages for the names Eleanor and Helen. Eleanor has an unclear origin and can have various meanings, including 'the other Aénor', 'the stranger', 'the merciful', or 'God is my light'. A detailed discussion of the possible origins can be found on the name page of Alienor. The name Helen derives from the names Helena and Helene and means 'the shining', 'the radiant', 'the beautiful', as well as 'the torch'. Its roots go back to Ancient Greek and stem from three Greek terms: helénē (ἑλένη), meaning 'the torch', 'the light', and 'the glow'; hēlios (ἥλιος) for 'the sun', 'the sunlight', and 'the sunrays'; or selēnē (σελήνη), meaning 'the moon'. Other variants of the name include Nelli, Nellie, Nelly, Nellia, Nellina, Nelliana, Nelida, and Nelleke.
Where does the name Nelle come from?
The name Nelle has its roots in Old French and Ancient Greek and means 'the stranger' or 'the shining'.
How do you pronounce Nelle?
Nelle is pronounced like 'Nell', with a short 'e' sound.
When is the name day of Nelle?
The name day for Nelle is celebrated on April 26, May 21, August 18, October 29, and November 15.
Popularity
In Germany, Nelle is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,884th in the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2017 when it reached 2,122nd place. In the last ten years, Nelle has been chosen as a first name about 20 times, placing it 5,715th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it stands at 5,562nd place.
Nicknames & pet names
Nellchen / Nelli / Nelly
Famous people
- Nelle Elizabeth Nichols Peters (American architect)
- Nelle Harper Lee (American author (To Kill a Mockingbird))
- Nelle Richmond Eberhart (American poet)
Frequently asked questions about the name Nelle
What is the origin of the name Nelle?
The name Nelle has its roots in Old French and Ancient Greek. It can mean both 'the stranger' and 'the shining' and derives from the names Eleanor and Helen.
What does the name Nelle mean?
Nelle is a diminutive that was used in the Middle Ages for the names Eleanor and Helen. Eleanor can have various meanings such as 'the merciful' or 'God is my light', while Helen means 'the shining' or 'the beautiful'.
How popular is the name Nelle?
The name Nelle is relatively rare but has gained popularity in recent years, especially in modern naming trends that appreciate classic roots.