Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Longer name for Nell

114 replies

Firebird83 · 03/01/2026 21:26

I like the name Nell but would like it to be short for a longer name. Which do you prefer out of Helena and Eleanor? Middle name would be Katherine or Louisa. Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Mumofgirls2017 · 04/01/2026 08:53

Helena!

also like Elena, Penelope

Lollylavender · 04/01/2026 08:46

Helena surely becomes Hell or Helly?!

Nell is normally short for Penelope

user2848502016 · 04/01/2026 00:17

I like both but would pick Helena if I had to choose.
Helena Katherine is beautiful

Bbq1 · 04/01/2026 00:09

DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 03/01/2026 21:58

Eleanor is the obvious one and a lovely name and nickname. Penelope is pretty cool though- feel like Bridgerton has made it not so left field as it might have been.

Penny is a very popular name now

80smonster · 03/01/2026 23:44

What about Anneli? It’s a Finnish name, roughly translated to Annie I believe.

Eggybreadwithnuts · 03/01/2026 23:37

Adore Helena sounds so classy ❤️ @Firebird83

LilyLemonade · 03/01/2026 23:36

Of the two, I prefer Helena (or Helen or Ellen). I find it very elegant.

AlwaysRightISwear · 03/01/2026 23:13

Elinor as in Sense and Sensibility?

Or I rather like Petronella

RudolphRNR · 03/01/2026 23:10

Eleanor Katherine

elQuintoConyo · 03/01/2026 23:09

Nellsbells.

Joking aside: Eleanor, it's lovely.

user1492757084 · 03/01/2026 22:52

Eleanor Katherine

Other nice one ..
Ellen Louisa

HelenaWilson · 03/01/2026 22:30

I like the sound of Helena Katherine. She sounds like someone who could be the Head Girl at The Chalet School. (This is very high praise in my world!)

Points to username.
Helena Wilson was a much better role model than Helena Maynard.

The only Helena I've known in RL pronounced it Helen-a. I've always thought that was the standard English pronunciation.

VikaOlson · 03/01/2026 22:28

Pavementworrier · 03/01/2026 22:10

Smelly Nelly? Cmon

You can find something like that for any name but it's not a reason not to pick a name.

Trampauline · 03/01/2026 22:27

My grandmother used to get called Nell and her full name was Ellen.

ClaredeBear · 03/01/2026 22:25

I love Penelope but I know an Elen who is a Nel.

Jugendstiel · 03/01/2026 22:25

Helena or Eleanor are both gorgeous, classic names.

BooksandCats123 · 03/01/2026 22:25

Eleanor Louisa

stollenisthebest · 03/01/2026 22:24

Helena is my favourite.

Ellen is also nice - better than Eleanor.

cotedazur28 · 03/01/2026 22:23

I had a friend at uni back in the ‘90s called Nell which was a shortened version of Anneli. I’ve always thought of it as a lovely name.

jjeoreo · 03/01/2026 22:21

ChloeCannotCanCan · 03/01/2026 22:17

Eleanor is beautiful and timeless.

I also like Helena but it has the annoying ‘2 pronunciations’ issue

3! He-lenna, he-leena, he-layna.

ilovepixie · 03/01/2026 22:21

Mumofteenandtween · 03/01/2026 21:53

I like the sound of Helena Katherine. She sounds like someone who could be the Head Girl at The Chalet School. (This is very high praise in my world!)

😂😂mine too.

nildesparandum · 03/01/2026 22:18

I had a great aunt Nellie, her real name was Eleanor

tinyspiny · 03/01/2026 22:18

I really dislike Eleanor so of the two I’d go for Helena but I really like Antonella .

ChloeCannotCanCan · 03/01/2026 22:17

Eleanor is beautiful and timeless.

I also like Helena but it has the annoying ‘2 pronunciations’ issue

caringcarer · 03/01/2026 22:15

My niece is Helena but goes by Nel.