Given name & surname · also Latin
Nella
“the shining light”
Nella is a variant of Nelly. In English use, Nelly carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Original ItalianAntonella
Meaning & origin
What it means
Nella is a variant of Nelly. In English use, Nelly carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Nella comes from Latin, and ultimately from Italian.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How it developed
In Finnish usage, Nella is a short form of Petronella. In Finnish usage, Nella developed from Cornelia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nella through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,374
- 0 boys · 4,374 girls
- Most popular year
- 1927
- 81 babies
- 2025
- 60
- #2,852 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −5%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 60 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,852 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 5.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,390 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nella’s family of names
In Finnish usage, Nella is a short form of Petronella. In Finnish usage, Nella developed from the German form Cornelia. Nella has a related form in Nelly.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nella has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
Latinwhere Nella comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Nella
- Nella LarsenAmerican novelist, librarian, nurse (1891–1964)
- Nella Walkeractress (1886-1971)
- Nella MartinettiSwiss singer (1946– 2011)
- Nella Maria BonoraItalian actress (1904-1990)
- Nella BielskiFrench writer1937–2020
- Nella PelkonenFinnish figure skaterborn 2005
- Nella Bergenactress and singer (1873-1919)
- Nella NobiliItalian poet and writer (1926–1985)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nella, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Neva
“from the place covered with snow”
>99% girls
Enedina
“one who is praised”
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“woman from France; one who is free”
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Zetta
“resembling the rose”
>99% girls
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“a successful man”
>99% girls
Una
“one who is pure; chaste”
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Elda
“a battlemaiden; a protector”
>99% girls