Daily AncestorNellie
Nellie was a common nickname for Ellen, Eleanor, Helen or Cornelia in American records of the 1700s and 1800s.
Nellie is a pet form of Ellen, Eleanor and Helen, and lists of 18th and 19th century nicknames add Cornelia. It was also popular as a full given name around 1900.
If a search for Ellen finds nothing, try Nellie, and the reverse. Treat a match as a lead and confirm it with age, birthplace and family members. Because Nellie served for more than one name, see which full name the same woman carries in other records.
As seen in a recordCounty newspaper death notice, 1908; her death certificate gives Ellen
Mrs. Nellie Blakesley, aged 65, died at her home Sept. 3, 1908
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Nellie." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/nicknames/nellie. Last checked 2026-10-15.