Nell
A diminutive of the female given names Eleanor, Ellen, and Helen
Every Nell since 1880 — 27,710 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nell
Nell is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #1,628 in 2025 with 128 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 27,710 American babies have been named Nell. Its peak came in 1917, when 766 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nell stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nell year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 128 | #1,628 | — | — |
| 2024 | 150 | #1,463 | — | — |
| 2023 | 124 | #1,679 | — | — |
| 2022 | 119 | #1,749 | — | — |
| 2021 | 96 | #2,020 | — | — |
| 2020 | 79 | #2,273 | — | — |
| 2019 | 115 | #1,784 | — | — |
| 2018 | 72 | #2,471 | — | — |
| 2017 | 87 | #2,196 | — | — |
| 2016 | 70 | #2,556 | — | — |
| 2015 | 61 | #2,879 | — | — |
| 2014 | 42 | #3,701 | — | — |
| 2013 | 44 | #3,557 | — | — |
| 2012 | 32 | #4,574 | — | — |
| 2011 | 32 | #4,538 | — | — |
| 2010 | 24 | #5,741 | — | — |
| 2009 | 30 | #4,904 | — | — |
| 2008 | 20 | #6,743 | — | — |
| 2007 | 24 | #5,850 | — | — |
| 2006 | 30 | #4,764 | — | — |
| 2005 | 27 | #4,925 | — | — |
| 2004 | 19 | #6,431 | — | — |
| 2003 | 23 | #5,360 | — | — |
| 2002 | 23 | #5,223 | — | — |
| 2001 | 35 | #3,762 | — | — |
| 2000 | 28 | #4,371 | — | — |
| 1995 | 18 | #5,378 | — | — |
| 1990 | 31 | #3,489 | — | — |
| 1985 | 24 | #3,591 | — | — |
| 1980 | 40 | #2,422 | — | — |
| 1975 | 34 | #2,392 | — | — |
| 1970 | 36 | #2,225 | — | — |
| 1965 | 37 | #1,904 | — | — |
| 1960 | 85 | #1,183 | — | — |
| 1955 | 97 | #1,022 | — | — |
| 1950 | 157 | #684 | — | — |
| 1945 | 184 | #540 | — | — |
| 1940 | 296 | #393 | — | — |
| 1935 | 390 | #319 | 6 | #3,533 |
| 1930 | 511 | #294 | — | — |
| 1925 | 627 | #266 | — | — |
| 1920 | 661 | #256 | — | — |
| 1915 | 689 | #228 | — | — |
| 1910 | 318 | #203 | 6 | #1,533 |
| 1905 | 229 | #201 | — | — |
| 1900 | 256 | #198 | 5 | #1,440 |
| 1895 | 247 | #171 | — | — |
| 1890 | 221 | #160 | — | — |
| 1885 | 151 | #151 | — | — |
| 1880 | 77 | #170 | — | — |
Famous people named Nell
- Nell Gwyn Actor · 1650–1687
- Nell Arthur Politician · 1837–1880
- Nell Carter Actor · 1948–2003
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nell mean?
A diminutive of the female given names Eleanor, Ellen, and Helen
How popular is the name Nell in 2025?
Nell ranked #1,628 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 128 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nell?
27,710 babies have been named Nell in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nell most popular?
Nell peaked in 1917, when 766 newborns received the name.
Is Nell a boy or girl name?
Nell is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Nell rising or falling?
Nell is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Nell?
Well-known people named Nell include Nell Gwyn (actor), Nell Arthur (politician), Nell Carter (actor).