Nell is believed to have originated as a diminutive of Eleanor, a name derived from the Provencal form of the Germanic name Alienor. The name Nell first came into use in the 19th century and was popularized by the works of Victorian authors such as Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Brontë. It has since been associated with characters in various literary works, most notably in Hardy's novel "The Return of the Native." Despite its historic roots, Nell remains a unique and charming name choice for girls today.
The name Nell appears to have had modest popularity during the early to mid-20th century with a peak of 9 births in 1918 and 1933. However, it never became highly popular, as indicated by the lowest number of births recorded being just 5 in several years between 1900 and 1977.