The first name Nellie

In 2025, 458 girls were named Nellie, making it the 101st most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2023, with 509 births (#97).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nellie with other names.

In 2025, 567 girls born in the United States were named Nellie, the 533rd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 4,048 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Nellie Bly
  American journalist, 1864–1922
• Nellie Tayloe Ross
  First woman state governor in the U.S., 1876–1977
• Nellie McClung
  Canadian author, social activist, suffragette & politician (1873-1951)
• Nellie Connally
  First Lady of Texas from 1963 to 1969
• Nellie McKay
  American musician, born 1982
• Nellie Halstead
  British athlete (1910-1991)
• Nellie Lutcher
  American singer (1912–2007)
• Nellie Fox
  American baseball player and coach (1927–1975)
• Nellie Adalesa Brown
  American botanist, 1876–1956
• Nellie Pou
  American politician (born 1956)
• Nellie Martel
  Australian suffragist (1855–1940)
• Helen Herron Taft
  First Lady of the United States from 1909 to 1913

What does the name Nellie mean?

Suffixed with -ie, compare Noll and Neddie, respectively from Oliver and Edward.

How popular is the name Nellie?

In 2025, 458 girls born in England and Wales were named Nellie, ranking 101st. Its peak was 2023, with 509 births.

Is Nellie a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 153,284 US babies named Nellie since 1880 were girls.

When was Nellie most popular?

1918 in the United States, when 4,048 babies were named Nellie, its highest rank at 65th.

What are other spellings of Nellie?

Nell and Nelly.