Nellie

Meaning of Nellie

Nellie is often a shortened version of names like Eleanor or Helen. Helen means "bright, shining one."

Nellie has Greek roots — browse every Greek baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Nellie

Nellie has cooled off, slipping to #533 in 2025, down from a peak of #520 in 2024.

Notable people named Nellie

• Nellie Bly
  Investigative journalist and writer
• Nellie Melba
  Australian opera singer
• Nellie McKay
  American singer and songwriter
• Nellie Kim
  Soviet gymnast, five-time Olympic
• Nellie Tayloe Ross
  First female US governor

More Greek names

Questions about the name Nellie

What does the name Nellie mean?

Nellie means nellie is often a shortened version of names like eleanor or helen. helen means "bright, shining one.", and it comes from Greek origins.

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

Nellie is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Nellie?

In 2025, Nellie ranked #533 for girls, down from #520 the year before.

When was Nellie most popular?

Nellie peaked at #520 in 2024.