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Original poster

Nell - thoughts and feelings?

44 replies

user1490100454 · 07/06/2017 10:20

what person do you think of if they are called Nell?

I am only 8 weeks so totally premature thinking of names but just wanted to get anyones thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

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DramaAlpaca · 07/06/2017 11:36

Nell is absolutely lovely, whether it's short for something or just on its own.

Nelly/Nellie is awful though & that would be enough to put me off the name.

blahthisistoohard · 07/06/2017 11:34

Absolutely love this name and we really wanted to use it for DD2, however we decided when down to the final two that it sounded a bit incomplete as a full name. I do think it is fine to use as a full name but doesn't fit so well for us with our surname.

We couldn't find a version we wanted to shorten it from either, we felt Nellie was too risky- 'smelly nellie, nellie the elephant' etc

Lemondrop99 · 07/06/2017 11:04

Penelope shortened to Nell is nice, then you also have the option of Penny too if you like it?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 07/06/2017 11:01

Or Helena (Nell).

Original poster
user1490100454 · 07/06/2017 10:44

It's the 'Nellie' thing that slightly puts me off as once kids start calling a nickname it can be hard to stop.

I'm Amy and used to get Aims and to this day it still does my head in - why people feel the need to abbreviate a short name is beyond me!

OP posts:
disastrouslee · 07/06/2017 10:41

I'm Helen, aka Nell. I think it's great, far nicer than my actual name Wink

nell15 · 07/06/2017 10:41

It's my username, my name is Ellen and I get called Nell by a select. When I was at school people started calling me Nellie and it felt like there was a slight derogatory tone to it. I.e. Wet nelly, stupid nelly, not on your nelly etc I do quite like Nell but children will add the ie or y onto it.

MackerelOfFact · 07/06/2017 10:40

Lovely. I love Nella too.

grendel · 07/06/2017 10:39

Nell is usually short for Helen.
'Nell' itself really nice, but does run the risk of being turned into Nelly or Nellie which is not so good.

BadTasteFlump · 07/06/2017 10:38

I like it but it makes me think of Nell Gwynn - not that it matters!

I considered calling DD Helena with the NN Nell.

Original poster
user1490100454 · 07/06/2017 10:37

We like just Nell but a short name sounds slightly odd with the surname, spelling of Elinor would be preferred as I am welsh.

didn't think this name would be well liked as it's not commonly used, so it's now more set in my mind thanks to you lot Smile

OP posts:
JakeBallardswife · 07/06/2017 10:34

A fab name, really great. Actually I think I want to be a Nell, I feel a name change coming on.

BertrandRussell · 07/06/2017 10:32

It's a gorgeous name.

It is also traditionally short for Helen.

Enb76 · 07/06/2017 10:32

I prefer Nell from Eleanor (not Elenor or Elinor) but that's a personal preference because it's my name.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 07/06/2017 10:31

Eleanor (or Elinor). Congratulations, btw!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 07/06/2017 10:30

I think it's lovely. Nelly/Nellie is perhaps not so great, but I think if you are firm people do eventually stop using an unwanted nickname (I speak from personal experience - I can't stand any of the many, many short/nickname versions of my name, and nobody uses any now). Of course if your daughter decided she wanted to be known as Nelly that would be different.

Original poster
user1490100454 · 07/06/2017 10:29

Thanks guys - if we were to use it as a nn do you prefer Penelope or Elenor?

OP posts:
chipscheeseandgravy · 07/06/2017 10:27

I went to school with someone called Elenor, she was always nell and I always thought it was quite a nice name. :)

MusicToMyEars800 · 07/06/2017 10:23

I like the name, but it does remind me of the irritating whiny Emmerdale character Grin

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