Nell is a distinctive choice, ranked #400 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Nell in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#400
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 distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Nell
Unlikely. With around 108 UK babies named Nell per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Nell in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Nell has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 53 places in the last five years. Its peak was #263 in 2022. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
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 — 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.; Edward J. Nell — Edward J..
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.
108
UK babies named Nell (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 53 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
Likely around 1 other Nell in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
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
Michael Nell is a Canadian former ski jumper. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Nell started ski jumping in 1999 at almost 15 years old (in a sport where the common starting age is as young as 5–6 years old).
Tracey Jane McAndrew, known as Nell McAndrew, is an English glamour model, TV presenter and fitness trainer. She is also an accomplished amateur athlete, with a marathon personal best time of 2:54:39.
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.
Elinor Teresa Newman is an American former child actress who performed under the name of Nell Potts. She is an environmentalist, biologist, and a prominent supporter of sustainable agriculture, who became an entrepreneur when she founded an organic food and pet food production company, Newman's Own Organics.
Nell Irvin Painter is an American historian notable for her works on United States Southern history of the nineteenth century. She is retired from Princeton University as the Edwards Professor of American History Emerita.