What is Nell a nickname for?

[AhsokaTano]

We are having a boy I think but DH mentioned the other day that if it was a girl he'd like to put Helen on the list. It was the name of his dad's mother who died when FIL was a few months old.

I'm not a tremendous fan of the name, but could live with it if I could use a nickname like Nell. This whole discussion made me wonder what else Nell might be a nn for? So far I've got

Helen
Helena
Eleanor

Any other ideas?

Ellen
Prunella
Petronella

Elena
Elaine
Could be Eloise,

I actually think Helena would be lovely, it would be nice for DH and would also be an old fashioned but unusual-ish name. It is only a slight deviation from Helen with a little twist. And Helena Bonham Carter is fabulous.

Sorry i realise that doesnt answer your question but yes Nell is a good nickname i-prefer Helena though

Elinor

I know a Penelope who goes by Nell, as she doesn't like Penny very much!

Damn it - was trying to make the 'nel' bit of Penelope go bold but failed, but you get what I mean!

Nell could be a name in it's own right, couldn't it?

Of course, Helen is the name in for obvious reasons, but I agree tag Helena could be an acceptable variant - even Elena? (Could pronounce it 'El-ey-nah).

My (late 20's) friend is named Nellie, but prefers Nell.

An alternative suggestion is to find out what 'Helen' means and fine another name with that meaning. You'd honour the name then, without naming your DD something you're not keen on.

I thought Nell was a nickname for Elizabeth?

I know an Anelka who is "Nel"

I always thought that technically Nell was a nickname for Elizabeth, but I could have made that up in my own head. I love Helena, but would pronounce it Hel ee na. One of my children goes to school with a Nell, just Nell, no long version.

Ellen. My Grandma was called Ellen Lydia. I love that name, but I have 2 ds.

Helen means light and Elaine is a variation on this - I've never been called Nell though, DH calls me El and as a child I was sometimes Lainey. DD is Eilidh which means the same thing in Gaelic. AFAIK Elinor, Ellen etc all mean the same.

I'd have said Nell was a name in it's own right, not necessarily short for anything. I know a Helen who as far as I know has never been called Nell.

This site suggests Cornelia which is kind of cool.

I think Helen, Eleanor/Elinor and Ellen are the most commonly accepted ones though.

Why on earth do people like 'Nell'? Old granny name. Death Knell.

Mañuela.
Did you mean to sound so rude percy?

Nell is a name in it's own right, imo. And lovely.

Helen is lovely, especially as it has sentimentality for you and I think Nell is a good NN for it.

Penelope.

Thanks, lots of lovely suggestions - I never realised Elizabeth used Nell as a nickname.

I love the name Nell. Works well internationally, easy to spell, feminine yet unfrilly.

I like Helen too though. In 20 years time Helen will be one of the hot new/old names and your Nell will be ahead of the game.

Eleanor. DD is Eleanor - she gets called many variations on Nell - Noodle being my personal favourite As in Nelly Noodle

Had a friend in school called Fenella who used Nell as a nickname.

I have a 14 year old Helen who loves her name, and has always been the only one in her year group. I like Nell for short but my daughter doesn't.

I have a baby Helena and have been forbidden by the family to call her Nell.

I have had zero positive reactions to her name, BTW. Normally get a polite 'oh' and a quick smile. So I don't think we're going to be overwhelmed with little Helenas any time soon.

Danielle

I am a Helen and love my name! Have NEVER been referred to as Nell. Didn't know it was even a nn for Helen...

What puts me off Helen is that it seems so 'solid' if that makes any sense so it's nice to hear from Helens who really like their name.

I do prefer Helena but in my mind I pronounce it Hel-ai-na with the emphasis on the middle syllable whereas I know my mum for example pronounces it Hel-e-na emphasis on the Hel.

It would suit all ages though I suppose from baby to granny, and there is unlikely to be another in the class.