Nellie
Suffixed with -ie, compare Noll and Neddie, respectively from Oliver and Edward.
Every Nellie since 1880 — 153,284 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nellie
Nellie is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #533 in 2025 with 567 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 153,284 American babies have been named Nellie. Its peak came in 1918, when 4,057 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nellie stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nellie year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 567 | #533 | — | — |
| 2024 | 592 | #521 | — | — |
| 2023 | 486 | #615 | — | — |
| 2022 | 446 | #663 | — | — |
| 2021 | 384 | #743 | — | — |
| 2020 | 325 | #842 | — | — |
| 2019 | 311 | #864 | — | — |
| 2018 | 239 | #1,070 | — | — |
| 2017 | 196 | #1,228 | — | — |
| 2016 | 202 | #1,222 | — | — |
| 2015 | 197 | #1,245 | — | — |
| 2014 | 183 | #1,303 | — | — |
| 2013 | 158 | #1,434 | — | — |
| 2012 | 139 | #1,572 | — | — |
| 2011 | 116 | #1,767 | — | — |
| 2010 | 118 | #1,757 | — | — |
| 2009 | 125 | #1,752 | — | — |
| 2008 | 113 | #1,886 | — | — |
| 2007 | 119 | #1,800 | — | — |
| 2006 | 99 | #2,013 | — | — |
| 2005 | 84 | #2,198 | — | — |
| 2004 | 97 | #1,938 | — | — |
| 2003 | 88 | #2,041 | — | — |
| 2002 | 93 | #1,909 | — | — |
| 2001 | 85 | #2,007 | — | — |
| 2000 | 68 | #2,300 | — | — |
| 1995 | 87 | #1,697 | — | — |
| 1990 | 118 | #1,353 | — | — |
| 1985 | 106 | #1,274 | — | — |
| 1980 | 138 | #1,041 | — | — |
| 1975 | 151 | #883 | — | — |
| 1970 | 159 | #852 | — | — |
| 1965 | 202 | #691 | — | — |
| 1960 | 363 | #507 | — | — |
| 1955 | 521 | #386 | — | — |
| 1950 | 757 | #283 | — | — |
| 1945 | 933 | #210 | 5 | #3,638 |
| 1940 | 1,300 | #161 | 7 | #3,047 |
| 1935 | 1,738 | #131 | 15 | #1,897 |
| 1930 | 2,213 | #113 | 15 | #2,038 |
| 1925 | 2,937 | #98 | 10 | #2,874 |
| 1920 | 3,762 | #76 | 13 | #2,419 |
| 1915 | 3,679 | #63 | 11 | #2,403 |
| 1910 | 1,928 | #51 | 6 | #1,534 |
| 1905 | 1,626 | #48 | 7 | #1,057 |
| 1900 | 1,850 | #43 | 12 | #767 |
| 1895 | 1,833 | #30 | 9 | #781 |
| 1890 | 1,821 | #20 | 9 | #719 |
| 1885 | 1,432 | #16 | 6 | #902 |
| 1880 | 995 | #18 | 6 | #881 |
Famous people named Nellie
- Nellie Bly Writer · 1864–1922
- Nellie Melba Singer · 1861–1931
- Nellie Kim Gymnast · b. 1957
- Nellie Tayloe Ross Politician · 1876–1977
- Nellie McKay Singer · b. 1982
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nellie mean?
Suffixed with -ie, compare Noll and Neddie, respectively from Oliver and Edward.
How popular is the name Nellie in 2025?
Nellie ranked #533 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 567 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nellie?
153,284 babies have been named Nellie in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nellie most popular?
Nellie peaked in 1918, when 4,057 newborns received the name.
Is Nellie a boy or girl name?
Nellie is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Nellie rising or falling?
Nellie is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Nellie?
Well-known people named Nellie include Nellie Bly (writer), Nellie Melba (singer), Nellie Kim (gymnast).