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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What can Nell be short for..? Be imaginative!! :)

41 replies

typsical · 08/06/2011 10:40

I know of:

Eleanor/Elinor
Ellen
Helena
Helen
Cornelia
Penelope
Nellwyn/Nella/Nelly

Are there any more...?!

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serin · 27/09/2011 19:56

Nell-o-bel
Nellobella

Elanora's falcon

(well you did say be creative Smile)

ShoutyHamster · 27/09/2011 11:36

Ellis - have seen it used as a girl's name.

WildEyedAndHairy · 27/09/2011 04:54

I used to know a Nell whose real name was Galene. My great grandmother was Eliza Ellen but known as Nellie Confused.
I love the name Nell though and nearly went with it for DD.

CheerfulYank · 27/09/2011 04:16

Eleanora is my favorite girl's name in the whole wide world. :)

Offspring · 27/09/2011 04:03

All that I can think of have been mentioned, however wanted to add that I love Eleanor, Helena and Penelope, with Nell as a nn.

graciousenid · 27/09/2011 00:02

my Penelope is sometimes Nell/Nellie, never been Penny.

patindahat · 26/09/2011 20:54

Agnella

AgathaTrunchbull · 26/09/2011 19:39

My cousin's parents call her Nell. The rest of our family's party line is that we call her Eleanor, because Nell is, apart from being an ugly shortening of a lovely name, far too reminiscent of Nell Gwyn and Nelly the Elephant.

OTheHugeRaveningWolef · 26/09/2011 14:14

Leonora?

ceeceeanne · 26/09/2011 14:11

Would choose Nellwyn

StealthPolarBear · 11/06/2011 13:55

Isonelle

Mabelface · 11/06/2011 13:54

My SIL is Fenella called Nelly and my daughter is Eleanor - called Nells as a NN.

Nightstar · 11/06/2011 13:51

Petronella, Old gypsy name.

More traditional English I would go for Prunella

More modern I would go for Fenella

shuckleberryfinn · 11/06/2011 09:10
forgot to link.
shuckleberryfinn · 11/06/2011 09:10

haha, I sing this to my Nelle . Dad liked Eleanor but I really don't, unfortunately it was his turn. I do love Nell though so we're all happy.

UndiscoveredApprentice · 11/06/2011 09:01

LeeTheElephant

5DollarShake · 11/06/2011 05:31

Don't think it's been mentioned, but Elena is another one, either pronounced Ell-ena (accent on 1st syllabul) or El-lay-na (accent on 2nd syllable).

My daughter has one of the names in your original list OP and I love Nell, but DH really doesn't like, so I doubt she she will ever have it as a nn.

His grandmother was known as Nelly and I think he just sees it as too old lady.

His cousin was going to call their DD Nelly (after her), but in the end they decided that if she did end up carrying a little extra weight, the elephant references might be too hard to resist by other children.

kiteflying · 11/06/2011 02:37

Please not Narelle. It is a "Sharon and Tracey" name in Australia. Like Chantelle.

I think you could get away with Penelope - Nell, but your work could be undone as soon as she gets to school because even teachers will probably call her Penny or Pen. I put up with nicknames I did not really like all the way through school. It goes with the territory of having a longish name.

I love Eleanor - Nell, for what it is worth.

tiptoptally · 11/06/2011 01:43

Narelle

tiptoptally · 10/06/2011 20:44

Anelia

hester · 10/06/2011 07:55

I know a Nanerl (pronounced Nanelle).

dollydoops · 10/06/2011 07:36

Ornella. It's an Italian name.

ceeceeanne · 09/06/2011 16:21

Love Nelly and Nella but afraid Nelly might attract silly elephant references. Anyone agree?
Like Penelope too and is the only way I can sneak nn Nell past partner! Do we think she would definitely get Penny at some stage because we really don't want Penny as nn

Xavielli · 09/06/2011 16:07

My Nell(ie) is Eliana

Hullygully · 09/06/2011 11:59

Wellenellenellener

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