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Baby names

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Original poster

What is Nell short for?

36 replies

DangerMousey · 05/07/2012 20:56

Really like the name Nell for a girl but wonder if it's usually a NN for something longer?

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Jackie432 · 13/07/2012 16:37

I know a Penelope who uses Nell as a nn.

dillnameddog · 06/07/2012 16:51

Helen/a or Eleanor

BuntyCollocks · 06/07/2012 15:53

My friend is Nell and she is Jinel.

Belmo · 06/07/2012 12:36

I know four (older) Nells, all short for Helen.

EmpressOfTheSevenOceans · 06/07/2012 11:51

Helena for Chalet School fans. Nell is pretty, though Nellie is a bit awful.

helpyourself · 06/07/2012 11:48

Eleanor- my great great Aunt, or Manuela my sil.

ByTheWay1 · 06/07/2012 11:46

Helen Eleanor and Elizabeth - but in my mind and even more unfortunately - in those of the school bullies - sorry - it will always be Nellie the elephant.....

AKMD · 06/07/2012 11:35

I thought it was Helen.

littleducks · 06/07/2012 11:00

Helen though I don't know many shortened to Nell nowadays more in classical novels.

elliephant · 06/07/2012 10:55

Nell is short for Ellen or Helen

WillowTheWitch · 06/07/2012 10:44

IME it's short for Helen . Not really that
Much shorter though Grin

randomimposter · 06/07/2012 10:20

I really like Nell, and would use it for Eleanor or Helena personally.

AnnaNimitty · 06/07/2012 08:40

Nell Gwyn's real name was Elinor.

darkfever · 05/07/2012 22:51

It's short for Helen / Ellen / Eleanor. I think because it rhymes with Hel / El, same reason as Bob is a nn for Robert.

cureall · 05/07/2012 21:38

Fenella?

AgathaTrunchbull · 05/07/2012 21:33

My cousin's called Nell by her parents... and Eleanor (her actual name) by everyone else!

PigeonStreet · 05/07/2012 21:29

Its Ellen

Chubfuddler · 05/07/2012 21:28

Ellen.

My name is Helen, no one has ever called me Nell.

sleepybump · 05/07/2012 21:27

Eleanor ... More often seen shprtened to Nelly though, then nn comes from that.

StrawberryMojito · 05/07/2012 21:24

I thought Helen too.

amck5700 · 05/07/2012 21:20

www.behindthename.com/name/nell

evilgiraffe · 05/07/2012 21:20

My first thought was Elizabeth, but Eleanor/Helen makes sense too.

GnocchiNineDoors · 05/07/2012 21:18

I think you could just have Nell if you wanted.

My dd has a 'nickname' as her official name as I didnt want to give her a name I would never ever use.

IAmTheMoog · 05/07/2012 21:18

Whoops posted too soon. My godmother was Nellie, christened Helen, she told me it was because Helen backwards was Neleh I.e Nellie

wigglesrock · 05/07/2012 21:18

I always thought it was Elizabeth too, but I know a Nell (4) who's just Nell.

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