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Nell

Girl

Meaning of Nell: English: 'bright, shining one'

Nell is a girl's name most strongly associated with English naming. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, and it is familiar but far from overused — 1577th most popular girls' name in the United States in 2025 and 400th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#1577

128 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#400

108 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

27,710

First recorded 1880 · peak 1917

Trend

rising

Style: uncommon

Popularity over time

1981: 22 babies1982: 28 babies1983: 29 babies1984: 28 babies1985: 24 babies1986: 22 babies1987: 29 babies1988: 25 babies1989: 24 babies1990: 31 babies19901991: 21 babies1992: 20 babies1993: 19 babies1994: 19 babies1995: 18 babies1996: 36 babies1997: 32 babies1998: 32 babies1999: 31 babies2000: 28 babies20002001: 35 babies2002: 23 babies2003: 23 babies2004: 19 babies2005: 27 babies2006: 30 babies2007: 24 babies2008: 20 babies2009: 30 babies2010: 24 babies20102011: 32 babies2012: 32 babies2013: 44 babies2014: 42 babies2015: 61 babies2016: 70 babies2017: 87 babies2018: 72 babies2019: 115 babies2020: 79 babies20202021: 96 babies2022: 119 babies2023: 124 babies2024: 150 babies2025: 128 babies
US babies named Nell per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 150.

Gender split

0% boys · 100% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More English girls' names

Other names starting with N