Nivelle

Nivelle is a proper noun that can refer to more than one usage in European onomastics and geography. It is not tied to a single, widely recognized entity, but rather appears in different contexts as a surname and as a toponym.

The etymology of Nivelle is not definitively established. In onomastic studies, the form resembles common French toponymic patterns, where a place name may incorporate a descriptor plus the suffix -ville, indicating a settlement. The initial element niv- could reflect a range of possible features (for example a geographic feature or a landscape term), but there is no consensus published in major references.

In contemporary usage, Nivelle is primarily encountered as a surname in Francophone regions and in genealogical records. It may also appear in local place-name records, though there is no universally recognized town or district named simply "Nivelle" in widely accessible gazetteers. In cultural or literary contexts, Nivelle can be used as a fictional name for a locality or family, reflecting its phonetic fit with Romance-language naming patterns.

See also: Nivelles, a town in Belgium.