Genealogy Chat

Could Nellie be short for Eleanor? I know I have the right family on the 1891 census, but one of the daughters has got married since the 1881 and is living with family but with her husband but her name has changed from Eleanor to Nellie?

It is usually a pet form of Helen. Perhaps her husband said 'Ellie' and the ennumerator heard nellie

Nell is most usually short for Helen, but it can be used for variants, such as Ellen, Eleanor/Elinor etc. nell

Every female in my tree before 1900 is called Eleanor! They are variously known as Ellie, Ellen, Nellie, Nell, Helen and Helena. (Elle = nelle backwards, thats where it comes from) Marjorie

Elle = nelle backwards- does it? Must do if marjorie says so! lol Marjorie , you are the font of all knowledge!

My great Aunt was known as Nell or sometimes Nellie and her real name was Elizabeth middle name was Ann. So I don't know,. Pat x

My aunt Nellie's name was Ellen, I don't know if that helps you Chris

I always thought Nell was used for Elizabeth Jacquie xxx

thanks everyone for your help. I am sure I have the right rellie but will find her marriage details and send for the cert to be 100%

Hi, Nellie is another name for Elizabeth. Can anyone tell me what Fanny is short for apart from Frances?

Nellie doesn't have to be short for anything. It appears as a name in its own right in my tree. Fanny could also be a stand-alone name, as well asa pet form of Frances/Francesca.

MY Aunt was registered as Ellen Elizabeth(her mum was Elizabeth) & she was always known as Nell or Nelly. Fanny can be short for Francesca Shirley

Nell Tsk! Where did the other 'n' go to, then, it was there when I left! Another 'backwards' name is the Scottish SENGA - Agnes spelt backwards. My Mum, who was a Scot, said it was Agnes if the mother's mother was Agnes, and Senga if the father's mother was called Agnes (Don';t know what it was if Granny was called Senga, so don't ask!) Marjorie

Marjorie My mum always told me (no idea how she knows as we have NO Scots connections at all) that Agnes was at one time soooo popular that Senga was used instead. And Agnes was pronounced Ann-yez, not Agg-ness. So perhaps Senga was Senn-ya and not Sengga! nell

nudging for Joyce

In my tree Nellie is definately short for Eleanor

Both my grandmother Eleanor and my great-grandmother Helen were known as NELL, but my great-uncle's wife was registered at birth as Nellie. Diane

My Grandma had a sister called Nellie... but her real name was Lydia! Can't see the connection between these two names though! Nothing like making it difficult when tracing families.

Nellie (F) > Nellie (female) Pet Name for: Eileen (F) Eleanor (F) Ellen (F) Helen (F) Nell (F) Can be spelt: Nelly (F) Source(s): 'Scottish Forenames' - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG Private communication [RK] Notes: Although normally a pet name, Nellie has occasionally been recorded as a given name.

My grandma was called Helena and she was known as Nellie. My great aunt was Eleanor and she was known as Ellie.