Nellie

#533 for girls in 2025, 567 births · Last seen for boys in 1947 at #3,370
Given to girls 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1881 · 1,096 births
Debut · girls
995 births
In top 100 · girls
46 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
152,691
since 1880

Nellie over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201942peak #14, 1881girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#533567—
2024#521592—
2023#615486—
2022#663446—
2021#743384—
2020#840325—
2019#861311—
2018#1,065239—
2017#1,224196—
2016#1,217202—
2015#1,239197—
2014#1,301183—
2013#1,432158—
2012#1,566139—
2011#1,758116—
2010#1,751118—
2009#1,742125—
2008#1,880113—
2007#1,792119—
2006#2,00399—
2005#2,18084—
2004#1,92597—
2003#2,03388—
2002#1,89793—
2001#1,99585—
2000#2,27768—
1999#1,85785—
1998#1,80186—
1997#1,91476—
1996#1,89876—
1995#1,68487—
1994#1,86276—
1993#1,96771—
1992#1,77482—
1991#1,76681—
1990#1,347118—
1989#1,47998—
1988#1,42797—
1987#1,67872—
1986#1,35196—
1985#1,269106—
1984#1,170114—
1983#1,071129—
1982#1,107127—
1981#1,055135—
1980#1,034138—
1979#950154—
1978#969143—
1977#1,004134—
1976#971131—
1975#878151—
1974#841156—
1973#910136—
1972#855151—
1971#836164—
1970#848159—
1969#859147—
1968#779165—
1967#695197—
1966#662213—
1965#691202—
1964#624262—
1963#627259—
1962#615266—
1961#535335—
1960#507363—
1959#498384—
1958#489382—
1957#455432—
1956#410487—
1955#386521—
1954#372550—
1953#336606—
1952#321637—
1951#322604—
1950#283757—
1949#281743—
1948#250891—
1947#250876#3,3706
1946#240885—
1945#210933#3,3385
1944#1991,011—
1943#1971,077—
1942#1831,207#2,26811
1941#1671,284#2,6568
1940#1611,300#2,8717
1939#1571,373#2,28810
1938#1521,454#1,97613
1937#1401,590#2,33210
1936#1351,665#2,4529
1935#1311,738#1,83715
1934#1261,837#1,93214
1933#1201,867#1,99713
1932#1231,979#1,77717
1931#1191,987#1,84316
1930#1132,213#1,96415
1929#1132,198#1,93316
1928#1112,346#2,16214
1927#1052,678#2,52311
1926#1022,722#1,84618
1925#982,937#2,75510
1924#923,075#1,83919
1923#883,184#3,1758
1922#833,274#3,2528
1921#803,513#2,63211
1920#763,762#2,33613
1919#693,726#2,38512
1918#654,048#2,8829
1917#643,808#2,18813
1916#613,862#2,7309
1915#633,679#2,31011
1914#612,952#2,6517
1913#582,645#2,4966
1912#592,365#1,61910
1911#541,866#1,5376
1910#511,928#1,4216
1909#511,768—
1908#491,757#1,1137
1907#501,671#1,0947
1906#491,596#1,0047
1905#481,626#1,0027
1904#441,560—
1903#451,491—
1902#411,566#1,0136
1901#411,454#7279
1900#431,850#74312
1899#411,510#9286
1898#361,810#1,0026
1897#371,693#9426
1896#341,696#9826
1895#291,833#7389
1894#301,767#63111
1893#271,770#45916
1892#301,738#7489
1891#251,647#6359
1890#201,821#6679
1889#191,752#7228
1888#211,736#7558
1887#191,457#58310
1886#171,492#9595
1885#161,432#8366
1884#171,417#6639
1883#171,246—
1882#191,138#8376
1881#141,096#7067
1880#18995#8096
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Nellie was already there! It came in at #18, and was given to 995 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1991–2006, when fewer than 100 girls a year got the name.

Where Nellie is popular in 1942

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #139 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 779 girlsNHWashington: #341 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,249 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedMNIllinois: #370 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 4,148 girlsILWisconsin: #334 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 4,709 girlsWIMichigan: #315 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 3,716 girlsMINew York: #388 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 5,139 girlsNYMassachusetts: #362 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,311 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedSDIowa: #203 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,625 girlsIAIndiana: #257 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,458 girlsINOhio: #234 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 2,059 girlsOHPennsylvania: #254 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 2,573 girlsPANew Jersey: #429 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 7,137 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #210 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 1,302 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedUTColorado: #211 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,239 girlsCONebraska: #224 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,645 girlsNEMissouri: #185 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,198 girlsMOKentucky: #114 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 575 girlsKYWest Virginia: #97 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 489 girlsWVVirginia: #105 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 471 girlsVAMaryland: #171 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,041 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedDEArizona: #69 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 254 girlsAZNew Mexico: #81 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 278 girlsNMKansas: #314 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,791 girlsKSArkansas: #136 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 617 girlsARTennessee: #82 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 392 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #86 for girls · 107 births · 1 in 392 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #94 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 390 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #147 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 784 girlsOKLouisiana: #200 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 906 girlsLAMississippi: #132 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 553 girlsMSAlabama: #72 for girls · 109 births · 1 in 303 girlsALGeorgia: #81 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 348 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Nellie, so not publishedHITexas: #219 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 1,117 girlsTXFlorida: #140 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 574 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Arizona#69 · 1 in 254
  2. Alabama#72 · 1 in 303
  3. New Mexico#81 · 1 in 278
  4. Georgia#81 · 1 in 348
  5. Tennessee#82 · 1 in 392

Best ever in a state: #11 in Arizona, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arizona#69231 in 254
Alabama#721091 in 303
Georgia#811011 in 348
New Mexico#81211 in 278
Tennessee#82801 in 392
North Carolina#861071 in 392
South Carolina#94611 in 390
West Virginia#97421 in 489
Virginia#105621 in 471
Kentucky#114511 in 575
Mississippi#132441 in 553
Arkansas#136331 in 617
New Hampshire#13951 in 779
Florida#140311 in 574
Oklahoma#147261 in 784
Maryland#171171 in 1,041
Missouri#185271 in 1,198
Louisiana#200291 in 906
Iowa#203131 in 1,625
California#210531 in 1,302
Colorado#21181 in 1,239
Texas#219601 in 1,117
Nebraska#22461 in 1,645
Ohio#234321 in 2,059
Pennsylvania#254351 in 2,573
Indiana#257131 in 2,458
Kansas#31451 in 2,791
Michigan#315151 in 3,716
Wisconsin#33461 in 4,709
Washington#34151 in 3,249
Massachusetts#36261 in 6,311
Illinois#370171 in 4,148
New York#388221 in 5,139
New Jersey#42951 in 7,137
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nevada———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Nellie
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 12 spots since 2024 (#521 → #533)
  • 307 spots since 2020 (#840 → #533)
  • 706 spots since 2015 (#1,239 → #533)
  • Biggest jump: 204 spots in 2019 (#1,065 → #861)
  • Biggest drop: 93 spots in 1976 (#878 → #971)
Rise & fade · girls
1 yr to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1881 at #14 (1,096 births)
  • Births halved by 1955, 74 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 46 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 46 yrs · run 1880–1925
  • Top 1,000: 106 yrs · run 1880–1976
Share of babies · girls
1 in 84
  • Highest: 1 in 84 girls born in 1881 were named Nellie (1.2%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,835 girls born in 2025 (0.04%)
Era · girls
The 1910s
  • 20.2% of all girls named Nellie (30,879) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s13,761#14 (1881)#18
1890s17,285#20 (1890)#31
1900s16,339#41 (1902)#46
1910s30,879#51 (1910)#61
1920s29,689#76 (1920)#95
1930s17,703#113 (1930)#132
1940s10,207#161 (1940)#214
1950s5,360#283 (1950)#387
1960s2,409#507 (1960)#659
1970s1,479#836 (1971)#906
1980s1,112#1,034 (1980)#1,264
1990s838#1,347 (1990)#1,787
2000s971#1,742 (2009)#1,972
2010s1,859#861 (2019)#1,341
2020s2,800#521 (2024)#653

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Nellie in 1942

girls
#183
1,207 births · 1 in 1,119 girls
boys
#2,268
11 births · 1 in 125,560 boys

Top girls' names in 1942

  1. #1Mary63,256
  2. #2Barbara44,739
  3. #3Patricia39,465
  4. #4Linda31,613
  5. #5Carol30,272
  6. #6Sandra24,994
  7. #7Judith24,792
  8. #8Nancy23,327
  9. #9Betty21,659
  10. #10Carolyn19,978
  11. #183Nellie1,207

Top boys' names in 1942

  1. #1James77,182
  2. #2Robert71,845
  3. #3John66,043
  4. #4William54,890
  5. #5Richard43,593
  6. #6David35,905
  7. #7Charles35,854
  8. #8Thomas31,100
  9. #9Ronald27,138
  10. #10Donald23,955
  11. #2,268Nellie11
More about 1942

girls

1,350,719 girls got a published name in 1942; 1 in 1,119 of them was named Nellie, which outranked 96.6% of the 5,378 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nellie
  1. #180Lynne1,235
  2. #181Jackie1,223
  3. #182Marianne1,219
  4. #183Nellie1,207
  5. #184Gayle1,188
  6. #185Carrie1,187
  7. #186Patty1,164
Biggest movers since 1941
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,567Michal#4,420 → #853
  2. ↑ 1,885Merrily#2,397 → #512
  3. ↑ 1,081Merrilee#1,954 → #873
  4. ↑ 783Jerrilyn#1,610 → #827
  5. ↑ 760Candace#1,418 → #658
Fallers
  1. ↓ 354Rebekah#924 → #1,278
  2. ↓ 350Leatha#830 → #1,180
  3. ↓ 307Nella#993 → #1,300
  4. ↓ 272Arla#934 → #1,206
  5. ↓ 262Vivien#735 → #997

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,381,161 boys got a published name in 1942; 1 in 125,560 of them was named Nellie, which outranked 43.9% of the 4,044 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nellie
  1. #2,145Waldon12
  2. #2,145Wm12
  3. #2,145Wray12
  4. #2,268Nellie11
  5. #2,268Addis11
  6. #2,268Aldon11
  7. #2,268Alejos11
  8. #2,386Abelino10
  9. #2,386Alvy10
  10. #2,386Amedeo10

Tied with 117 names at #2,268; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1941
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,993Macarthur#3,505 → #512
  2. ↑ 1,546Mcarthur#1,903 → #357
  3. ↑ 655Collin#1,588 → #933
  4. ↑ 514Delmas#1,254 → #740
  5. ↑ 390Colin#713 → #323
Fallers
  1. ↓ 525Otho#971 → #1,496
  2. ↓ 440Florian#918 → #1,358
  3. ↓ 421Martha#960 → #1,381
  4. ↓ 407Watson#951 → #1,358
  5. ↓ 371Gaylen#987 → #1,358

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1942 →