Nell is a distinctive choice, ranked #408 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Nell in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#408
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About the Name Nell
Nell is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 53 places over five years. Its high point was #263 in 2022, and it now sits at #400. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Nell is fairly common in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Nell in their class.
⭐ Famous People Named Nell
Michael Nell — Michael Nell is a Canadian former ski jumper.
Nell McAndrew — Tracey Jane McAndrew, known as Nell McAndrew, is an English glamour model, TV presenter and fitness trainer.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Nell
Unlikely. With around 100 UK babies named Nell per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Nell in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Nell has been fairly steady, ranked #408 in 2025 against #347 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #263 in 2022.
Nell is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Nell include: Michael Nell, Nell McAndrew and Edward J. Nell. Short summaries for each appear below.
Nell does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Nells in the wild.
100
UK babies named Nell (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 61 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Nell
Almost certainly the only Nell in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Nell
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Nell Columbia Boyer Martin, usually known as Nell Martin and also published under the name Columbia Boyer, was an American author from Illinois specializing in light-hearted mysteries and short stories.