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Baby names

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

Anna or Nell?

69 replies

CatewithaC · 20/04/2021 15:10

Nell has been one of my favourite names for a long time and I’ve been thinking about Anna a lot lately. What are your thoughts on Anna vs. Nell?

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finallychangedmyusername · 11/05/2021 22:20

Anna! Anna is gorgeous - classic, international.

I'm not so keen on Nell, prefer it as a nickname for Eleanor.

sibbys · 11/05/2021 21:34

Nell. Lovely name and there are way too many Annas around

FontyMcFontface · 27/04/2021 21:34

I also have a Nell. She loves her name. I’m not a fan of putting something different on the birth certificate and nobody has ever asked if it’s short for anything.

Germolenequeen · 27/04/2021 21:30

Nell 💓

8lue8ird · 27/04/2021 21:18

I have a nell so of course am biased. I still love it 16 years on.

JemimaJoy · 27/04/2021 21:13

Nell

yellowmelon · 26/04/2021 21:39

Nell sounds like a noise. Or a nickname. I'm not a fan. Anna is classic.

Marcipex · 26/04/2021 18:40

Anna, unless Nell will be short for Helen/Helena/Elinor.
I wouldn’t use Nell personally as it’s too easy to tease.

HSX8 · 26/04/2021 18:26

Annabelle?

Pinkypink · 26/04/2021 08:56

Anna.

Ellmau · 26/04/2021 08:19

Anna is a lovely classic name.

NaughtyNell · 24/04/2021 06:08

Nell short for Eleanor

MercyBodle · 24/04/2021 03:25

I love both Anna and Nell. Anna is safer, and Nell is more interesting and fun.

danascully96 · 23/04/2021 22:05

Anna! Although Helena Bonham Carter named her daughter Nell, which does make it even cooler... Still, I agree with everyone else that Nell's best as a nn for Eleanor.

Crosstrainer · 22/04/2021 22:14

Anna

HeadlessGummyBears · 22/04/2021 22:13

Anneliese sounds lovely. Reminds me of Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper.

clpsmum · 21/04/2021 17:43

Nell

SionnachRua · 21/04/2021 17:35

Anna. Nell is a scullery maid.
Elinor is lovely though and I liked the Anneliese suggestion too.

Saltyslug · 21/04/2021 17:26

Elenor

Saltyslug · 21/04/2021 17:25

Nell is short for Elinor

stellarfox · 21/04/2021 13:07

Nell! I find Anna a bit boring. Nell is lovely short for Penelope too

Temp023 · 21/04/2021 12:53

My Elinor is a Nell, sometimes Nelly.

CakesOfVersailles · 21/04/2021 12:44

Anna

Though I do like Nell as a nickname (I knew a Helen nicknamed Nell) I don't love it as a full name.

FindingMeno · 21/04/2021 06:44

Nell is beautiful.
I think a loved name should be used particularly when unusual and utterly gorgeous.

Peachbubble · 21/04/2021 06:37

Nell