Nelly is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the French word "nelli," which means "little new one." The name Nelly is often associated with the French writer and poet, Marcel Proust's character, Albertine Simonet, who was also known as Nelly in his novel, À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time).
The name Nelly has been popular throughout history. It gained popularity in the United States during the early 20th century, with its peak being between 1910 and 1940. Today, Nelly is still considered a classic name that evokes a sense of vintage charm.
In France, Nelly was also quite popular in the mid-20th century, ranking among the top 50 girls' names from the late 1930s to the early 1970s. Although its popularity has since declined, it remains a well-known and beloved name in France.
Some notable people with the name Nelly include:
* Nelly Sachs (1891-1970), a German-Swedish poet and dramatist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966.
* Nelly Berman (1923-2015), an American chess player and teacher who was one of the strongest female players in the United States during her time.
* Nelly Furtado (born 1978), a Canadian singer-songwriter known for hits like "I'm Like a Bird" and "Promiscuous."
Overall, the name Nelly carries a certain timeless elegance, drawing from its French origins and rich historical context. It remains a popular choice among parents looking for a classic yet distinctive name for their daughters.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Nelly has seen a varying level of popularity over time in the United States.
The name first appeared on the birth records in 2002 with only 5 newborns being named Nelly. The following year, there were 7 babies named Nelly, indicating that the name might have been gaining some traction. However, this increase was not sustained as the number of births dropped back down to 5 in 2007.
There was another small spike in popularity between 2010 and 2015 with 7 and then 6 births respectively. This stability suggests that Nelly might have been considered a somewhat classic or timeless name during this period.
More recently, the name has seen some renewed interest with 9 babies named Nelly in 2021, followed by another 5 in 2023. This could indicate that Nelly is once again becoming a popular choice for parents.
Overall, while Nelly may not have been among the most frequently chosen names over the past two decades, it has maintained a steady presence on U.S. birth records with a total of 64 babies named Nelly since 2002. This demonstrates that there is still a fondness for this name among parents across different years and generations.