The first name Nelly
A girl’s name.
2 syllables Female
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 121 girls were named Nelly, making it the 353rd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2019, with 211 births (#234).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nelly with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Nelly at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 173 girls born in the United States were named Nelly, the 1,294th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2007, when 208 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.
Famous people named Nelly
20 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Nelly KordaAmerican golfer, born 1998
- Nelly KaplanFrench filmmaker and writer (1931–2020)
- Nelly LandryBelgian-French tennis player, 1916–2010
- Nelly ArcanCanadian novelist (1975–2009)
- Nelly AginianChess player, born 1981
- Nelly RousselFrench activist (1878–1922)
- Nelly KarimEgyptian ballerina and actress, born 1974
- Nelly OmarArgentine actress and singer, 1911–2013
- Nelly MbanguCongolese women's and children's rights campaigner, born 1950
- Nelly BodenheimDutch illustrator known for silhouettes (1874–1951)
- Nelly MazloumEgyptian actress and dancer (1929–2003)
- Nelly OlinFrench politician (1941–2017)
Questions
- How popular is the name Nelly?
- In 2025, 121 girls born in England and Wales were named Nelly, ranking 353rd. Its peak was 2019, with 211 births.
- Is Nelly a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 7,871 US babies named Nelly since 1880 were girls.
- When was Nelly most popular?
- 2007 in the United States, when 208 babies were named Nelly, its highest rank at 1,209th.