Nelly Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Nelly is derived from Latin and Greek roots, primarily as a diminutive of names like Helen and Eleanor, which mean 'bright' or 'shining light'. It has evolved through several historical forms and gained standalone popularity in the 19th century. The name is often associated with positive traits such as warmth and friendliness, and it has no significant biblical relevance. Notable people with this name include Nelly Furtado and the rapper Nelly.

The name Nelly is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nelly has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Nelly' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 14010th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14258th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1845th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2138th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1756th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1697th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1591st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1452nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1665th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nelly' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nelly"

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Pronunciation

/ˈnɛli/

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Origin

Latin

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Etymology

The name Nelly is often considered a diminutive of Helen or Eleanor, which have roots in the Latin name 'Helenus' and the Greek 'Helene', meaning 'bright' or 'shining light'.

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Meaning

bright, shining light

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Language Evolution

Helenus, Elena, Eleanor, Nelly

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Historical Usage

Nelly gained popularity as a standalone name in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries.

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Variants & Derivatives

Nell, Nellie, Nelle

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Modern Popularity & Image

Nelly is perceived as a charming and friendly name, often associated with warmth and approachability.

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Famous People

Nelly Furtado, Nelly (the rapper), Nelly Bly

Explore More Nelly Name Visualizations

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nelly"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Nelly"

"Nelly" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 14010th of 24088 38
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 14258th of 23106 32
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 1845th of 9107 363
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 2138th of 9204 288
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 1756th of 12526 689
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 1697th of 19264 900
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 1591st of 27321 1,425
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 1452nd of 35406 2,311
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 1665th of 30306 1,563

Regional Popularity of "Nelly" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
- - - -
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- - - -
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- - - -
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

Regional Popularity of "Nelly" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - 100.00%
1547th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
79.70%
1775th/2227
36.83%
895th/2430
64.46%
1839th/2853
61.87%
1717th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
57.58%
1691st/2937
28.71%
1000th/3483
41.90%
1474th/3518
29.28%
1184th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
46.30%
1706th/3685
34.61%
1549th/4475
26.93%
1399th/5194
15.51%
980th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
41.95%
1922nd/4582
33.38%
1724th/5164
20.24%
1480th/7313
13.68%
1021st/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
48.42%
1929th/3984
35.84%
1608th/4487
25.49%
1739th/6822
21.54%
1352nd/6276

State-by-State Popularity of "Nelly"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Nelly" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.