Nellie is a charming and distinctive given name of American origin, derived from Ellen, which itself is a form of Helen. The name Helen is derived from the Greek word 'helene', meaning torch or light, and was popularized by the legendary figure of Helen of Troy in Homer's epic poem, "The Iliad". Nellie is often considered to be more playful and youthful than its longer counterparts, reflecting its origins as a familiar form used among friends and family. It gained significant popularity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The name Nellie was quite popular during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries, with a total of 593 babies named Nellie born between 1880 and 1947. The name's popularity peaked in the years 1924 (with 19 births) and 1932 (with 17 births), before declining towards the end of this period, with only 5 births recorded in 1945 and 6 in 1947. Interestingly, there were several years where no babies named Nellie were born at all, suggesting some fluctuations in the name's popularity over time.