On one hand, I feel like I don’t even need to ask, knowing the love that Nell gets on the forums, but here I am anyway…
I’ve had a list of girl names that I’ve stayed true to for years and years. Call it bad luck or just call it a weird coincidence but I keep meeting people with my favorite names. When I first met a Dorothy called Dot, I was excited to see how nice it sounded and how wearable it was. Now I’m three Baby Dorothys in and I can hardly imagine the name anymore without adding in their characteristics. I was happy to see a Helen in my literature class but now every time I think of Helen, I can’t unsee, well, Helen. Obviously, I’m “looking” for the names and meet way more Emilys or Sophies - the frustration still remains. I’m not anti-top-1000 but once I know a few people with the name, it loses a bit of sparkle.
These factors have led to Nell skyrocketing up my list. She has all the cottagecore charm with a bit of quirk. Nell is unranked in the US at the moment and Nameberry has her barely within the top 1000 by 2028 - which makes me hope that maybe I won’t meet 10 Baby Nells in the next few years.
So my questions are:
Any clever middle name or sibling name ideas?
How do you view Nell?
Do you prefer Nell as a full name or as a nickname (and for what full name)?
Since I’m already here, do you have any general name suggestions for me?
Additional comments and disclaimers:
Feel free to skip some of the questions/bring in a tangent/be as verbose or to the point as you’d like. Real babies are not imminent for me and yet I still feel tempted to try and contract SJ Strum to tell me what to name my children
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] is the NB’s darling, and I do like it. It is a bit nicknamey in the first spot in my opinion, but works wonderfully as a middle. I do see why so many love it, I do too! It’s short but it has substance and history to back it up. It’s one of those names that works on a baby and on a grandma. Some first names I like for [name_f]Nell[/name_f] are [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and its variants, like [name_f]Eleonora[/name_f], [name_f]Leonor[/name_f], [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], [name_f]Leonore[/name_f], and also [name_f]Helen[/name_f] and [name_f]Elena[/name_f]. I think it could also work as a nn for [name_f]Eluned[/name_f].
Siblings: [name_f]Ada[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f], [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Alma[/name_f] [name_u]Kit[/name_u], [name_m]Otto[/name_m], [name_u]Milo[/name_u], [name_u]Gus[/name_u], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] (I swear I only later realised you have some of these in your UC!)
I think [name_f]Nell[/name_f] makes a super sweet old fashioned nickname, and though it could work as a full name, I would much prefer it as a nickname for any ‘el’ name like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] etc.
I really love [name_f]Nell[/name_f]. It’s just so sweet and pretty. I can imagine so many different types of girls wearing this name. I prefer it as a lovely standalone.
I love Nell! As a full name or as a nn for Eleanor or Helen or Helena. It’s just so sweet and versatile!
I get a charming, vintage vibe from Nell. Nell is daisy chains and Mary Janes.
Other underused names I’d suggest with the same vibe:
Bess
Cecily
Harriet
Hester
Iva
Kit
Liza
Lotte
Lottie
Marian
Marie
Maud
Meg
Millicent
Polly
Sybil
Tess
Verity
I think if you’re using [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as a standalone first, you might want to go for a longer middle. I like the idea of [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Lavender[/name_f]! I think [name_f]Nell[/name_f] could work as a nickname for [name_f]Helen[/name_f] if you still want to use one. Of the two Nells I know, one is an [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and one is a [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. I do view it more as a nickname but I think it could work standalone, the Eleanor/Nell I know never goes by her full name.
I used to not be a big fan of the name because like you when it comes to less common names if I only know one or two of them, I strongly associate the name with that person, and I didn’t particularly like the first [name_f]Nell[/name_f] I knew. More recently, the second [name_f]Nell[/name_f] has got me feeling more positively about the name. I think it has a fun sort of old fashioned/medieval vibe.
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] is become fashionable and it’s definitely a NB favourite. I also think [name_f]Nell[/name_f] is going to increase popularity (I’m talking from a U.K. perspective) I can see [name_f]Nell[/name_f] becoming the new [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]. I can just see [name_f]Nell[/name_f] appealing to the masses and it’s understandable why I think she’s really sweet and spunky. A very happy name that I like in his own right and as a nickname.
For siblings I would go with something short and vintage (count repeated suggestions as me being in agreement with the berries) here are some ideas you will hopefully like
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Willa[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Ada[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Polly[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Polly[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Lois[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] ~ [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Kate[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Kate[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Iris[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsie[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Effie[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Effie[/name_f] & [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
I like [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as a full name for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] & [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and I also like the idea of [name_f]Leonora[/name_f] having [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as a nickname. But I also like [name_f]Nell[/name_f] as a just a name in her own right similarly I love [name_f]Effie[/name_f] as a name in her own right and as a nickname for [name_f]Euphemia[/name_f]. She’s an overall winner
Other names I think you may like are
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f]
[name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Pearly[/name_f]
[name_f]Maud[/name_f]
[name_f]Alma[/name_f]
