Nellie

English

Alternative forms

• Nelly

Proper noun

Nellie

1. A diminutive of the female given names Eleanor or Helen; popular as a formal given name at the turn of the 20th century.
   • 1860, Mary Jane Holmes, Cousin Maude, BiblioBazaar,LLC, published 2007, →ISBN, page 14:

     "Then we will call her Matilda," said he, "as it is a maxim of mine never to spoil children by giving them pet names."
     "But you call your daughter Nellie," suggested the little widow, and in her soft, blue eye there shone a mischievous twinkle, as if she fancied she had beaten him in his own argument. - - -
     "That is sister Kelsey's idea, and as she is very fond of Nellie I do not interfere.

   • 2007, Rachel M. Harper, Brass Ankle Blues, Simon&Schuster, →ISBN, page 88:

     "Eleanor, that's kind of an old lady name. I like Nellie better. Nellie Kincaid, that's got a nice ring to it. It sounds like you're a singer or something.

2. (rare) A diminutive of the female given name Chanel.
3. (rare) A diminutive of the male given name Nelson.

See also

• not on your Nellie

Anagrams

• nielle

Swedish

Alternative forms

• Nelly

Etymology

From English Nellie. First recorded as a Swedish name (as Nelli) in 1793.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /¹nɛlɪ/

• Audio

  (file)

Proper noun

Nellie c (genitive Nellies)

1. a female given name