Nellie

Nellie is a feminine given name and nickname that has been in use since at least the 19th century. It commonly functions as a diminutive form of Eleanor, Ellen, or Helen, though it has also been used as an independent name and, less often, as a nickname for Cornelia. Its popularity has varied by region and era, with a peak in English-speaking countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Etymology and usage: Nellie derives from Ellen and Helen, names of Greek origin meaning light or torch, though the exact meaning in the diminutive form is less direct. The form Nellie was popularized in literature, songs, and several notable individuals bearing the name.

Notable people and characters: The journalist Elizabeth Jane Cochrane used the pen name Nellie Bly, and the Australian soprano Helen Porter Mitchell adopted the stage name Dame Nellie Melba. In fiction, Nellie Olsen is a recurring character on the American television series Little House on the Prairie, and Nellie is the title character in the children's song Nellie the Elephant.

Other notes: Nellie has several regional spellings and variants, including Nell, Nelly, and Nell, and remains in use in various English-speaking communities, though it is less common as a given name for newborns today than in the early 20th century.