Nell
A medieval diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen, or Helen, originating from the affectionate phrase 'mine El', reinterpreted as 'my Nel'.
Meaning and origin
Nell is an English diminutive of older girls' names beginning with El, particularly Eleanor, Ellen, and Helen.
How to pronounce Nell
| English (US) | NEL /nɛl/ |
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About this entry
Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.
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