My Husband and I both love the name [name]Nellie[/name], especially because it is my grandmother’s name. However, neither of us like it as a first name, sounds a little too frilly.
He LOVES [name]Penelope[/name], and thought I think [name]Penelope[/name] is alright, I’m not loving it. Any suggestions for making [name]Nellie[/name] sound a little more like a first name. I like [name]Nella[/name] and [name]Nelle[/name], are there any other suggestions out there??
Thanks!
[name]How[/name] about [name]Eleanor[/name]?
Traditionally [name]Nellie[/name] is a nickname for [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Helen[/name] or [name]Helena[/name]. I think you could use [name]Nelia[/name].
[name]Antonella[/name]
[name]Cornelia[/name]
[name]Fenella[/name] or [name]Finella[/name]
[name]Helen[/name] or [name]Helena[/name]
What about Danella? I knew a girl called this when I was a kid and she got [name]Nell[/name]/[name]Nellie[/name]/[name]Nella[/name] as a nn
[name]Cornelia[/name], [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Helen[/name] are all names with [name]Nellie[/name] as a common nickname. A bit more uncommon would be [name]Jeanelle[/name], Denelle or even Nilofer, depending on how adventurous you are.
[name]Hope[/name] this helps;)
I agree, [name]Eleanor[/name] would be lovely. There’s also [name]Helena[/name], and in that vein, I’m sure you could use something like [name]Lenora[/name]/[name]Lenore[/name], [name]Gwendolen[/name], [name]Madeleine[/name], [name]Magdalene[/name], etc. If [name]Helena[/name] can get you [name]Nell[/name]/[name]Nellie[/name] with the “len” part, why not [name]Lenora[/name], [name]Gwendolen[/name], or [name]Madeleine[/name]?
ETA: I know a little girl named Anelia (said like [name]Amelia[/name], but with an “N”–I think it’s Italian?), and I think you could get [name]Nell[/name]/[name]Nellie[/name] from that, too.
I am not a fan of nicknames, so I would use [name]Nell[/name] or [name]Nellie[/name].
[name]Danielle[/name] , [name]Anelisa[/name], [name]Annelie[/name], [name]Cornelia[/name], [name]Onele[/name], [name]Noelle[/name], [name]Nephele[/name] and [name]Petronelle[/name]/a (I know most people think this one is aweful but I love it)
You could also go with a N- fn and choose [name]Elle[/name] as a mn or a -elle ending or something. (Nn [name]Nell[/name] or [name]Nellie[/name])
Nora Isabelle
Narissa [name]El[/name]ise
Any form of [name]Helen[/name] is your best bet: [name]Helen[/name], [name]Ellen[/name], [name]Eleanor[/name], [name]Helena[/name], [name]Elena[/name], [name]Helene[/name], etc.
I like Villanelle.
Thanks for all the input ladies! I appreciate all the suggestions, loving [name]Eleanor[/name] and [name]Helen[/name].
I thought Anelia was a great suggestion too! We love the name [name]Amelia[/name] it just didn’t feel “right” so this is another way to look at it.
I’ll keep you posted! 
I always thought [name]Nell[/name] would be a good nickname with [name]Penelope[/name] (my boyfriend loves it too) but I’m not completely sold on it either.
I always thought [name]Nell[/name] would be a good nickname for [name]Nephele[/name] too (pronounced Neph-ell-ee), but I don’t know if you’d like that.
[name]Nella[/name] is beautiful, and it sounds like a cross between [name]Nora[/name] and [name]Ella[/name], very chic names. I actually think [name]Nella[/name] is youthful as a child, and stylish and unique growing up.
My vote is [name]Nella[/name]!