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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Nelly — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Nello|Nelo
English◈ Unisex · 42% boy · 58% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Nelly

◈

NEL-ee · 2 syllables

Share Nelly:
Compare with another name
Girl
#1358
↑↑ Surging
Girl
#1358
Popularity score: 27
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#1358 in 2024
5yr
+157 ranks
Velocity
+157
Birth frequency
4.7 per 100,000 births
Boy
#11878
Popularity score: 5
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#8632 in 2021
5yr
+1689 ranks
Velocity
+1689
Birth frequency
1.7 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20212024

Rank #11878 · Falling since 2021

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Nelly

Popularity score: 5  ·  SSA Rank: #11878

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1358 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Nelly

Popularity score: 27  ·  SSA Rank: #1358

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
94
Higher than 94% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+157 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
3 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class
Name DNA
VintageClassicUnisex2-syllableNickname-stylePlayfulEnglishWarmAccessible
Character
warm kindnessgentle humorcheerful spiritnurturing heartgraceful resilience
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Nellys

innovativecompassionateversatileboldspiritual
STRONG
High confidence

Nelly is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #1358 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +157 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#1358 · rare
Nelly at a Glance
Meaning:Derived from Eleanor or Helen, meaning 'bright' or 'shining light.' Became an independent name through 19th-century English usage.
Language root:Greek · English diminutive
Peak rank:#1358 in 2024
5yr change:+157 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #1358 · Boy #11878
Notable bearers
Nelly Furtado
Singer (uses as stage name, born Nelly)
Nelly (rapper)
Hip-hop artist, born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.
Nelly Sachs
German-Swedish poet and Nobel laureate
Nelly Bly
Pioneering journalist and author
Nelly Kaplan
Film director and screenwriter
Similar Sound
NellieBellyKelly◈PennyJennyMolly
Similar Style
Hazel◈Wren◈IvyLucyStellaRuby
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Nelly
Hazel◈Wren◈EleanorClaraOscarHenry
You Might Also Like
Hazel◈
English · #19
→ Stable
Wren◈
Celtic · #213
→ Stable
Ivy
English · #36
→ Stable
Lucy
Latin · #34
→ Stable
Stella
Latin · #49
→ Stable
Ruby
Latin · #63
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Nelly illustration
Name Intelligence
Nelly · Overview
Summary

Nelly is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #1358 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Nelly scores 94/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 157 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
42% boy · 58% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Vintage · Classic · Playful character
Nelly carries a warm, gentle, soft quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Nelly is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
nelly.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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