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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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RedPoppy89 · 20/04/2021 15:11

Anna

Shesaysso · 20/04/2021 15:14

Anna

AnnaSW1 · 20/04/2021 15:14

Anna

Edenember · 20/04/2021 15:15

I love Nell. It’s on my list. Anna is lovely too and was once on my list but has fallen off. So I guess Nell is my favourite but they’re both lovely. Not much help!

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 20/04/2021 15:15

Anna.

Nell feels like a nickname to me.

rainbowthoughts · 20/04/2021 15:15

Nell. There are lots of Annas.

DramaAlpaca · 20/04/2021 15:15

Anna

Nell is sweet as a diminutive of, for example, Penelope, but it lends itself to being changed to the rather less attractive Nellie.

UnprecedentedPoster · 20/04/2021 15:17

Both are lovely! Fab choices. Either would be great. I'd probably go with... Anna... but only marginally prefer it.

YellowTwinklyStar · 20/04/2021 15:19

Nell

emmathedilemma · 20/04/2021 16:01

Anna
I think Nell needs to be a nn for something

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/04/2021 16:03

Both gorgeous - but I'd pick Anna unless you are using Nell for something longer.

Anna is an elegant full name, well used internationally just as it is (although the nn Annie is occasionally).

Where as Nell is a lovely diminutive only really used in English speaking countries (plus the Netherlands) as a given name. I also think it may well get "nicknamed" further to Nelly (like the elephant) unless you are already using Nell as the nn (eg. for Eleanor/Helen/Elena/Helena).

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/04/2021 16:03

occasionally used, sorry.

Monkeytapper · 20/04/2021 16:03

Anna

sarahalbumin · 20/04/2021 16:03

Anna - beautiful name.

Or go for Annabel which could be shortened to Anna, Belle or Nell.

Floralnomad · 20/04/2021 16:05

I prefer Nell but agree it needs to be a shortening of another name , Helena or Fenella would be my favourites as I don’t like Eleanor .

SE13Mummy · 20/04/2021 16:06

Both are lovely names but for me it would depend on what the last name will be. If it's got one or three syllables then I'd choose Anna, but Nell for a two syllable name.

Twinkie01 · 20/04/2021 16:07

Anna is pretty. I'd be worried if they were prone to being a little heavy they could be called Nelly the Elephant 😬

FeistySheep · 20/04/2021 16:07

My dog is called Nell! I think it's a great name though. I also like Anna.

I suppose think about the natural nicknames. Do you like Nellie? Annie/Ann? Is Nellie the Elephant still a thing? Or would Nell be short for something else?

funnyoldonion · 20/04/2021 16:09

Anna

WhiskyIrnBru · 20/04/2021 16:16

Love Nell!

YoniAndGuy · 20/04/2021 16:20

Anna

AnyaMoondial · 20/04/2021 16:26

I really like both. Anna is my favourite though.

Pedalpushers · 20/04/2021 16:32

I don't like Anna, it's dull. Nell is fun.

sarah13xx · 20/04/2021 16:57

Nell is one of my all time favourites!

TatianaBis · 20/04/2021 17:58

Nell by miles. Anna is tedious.