How old is someone named Nell?
The average Nell is 55 years old.
Half of all living Nells are between 22 and 82. The average sits between a large older group and a younger one, so many Nells are much older than 55.
When was Nell popular?
Parents have been choosing Nell less often since its peak in 1917; 128 babies got the name in 2025.
Popular names of 1917 · The most popular names of the 1910s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 2,441 | 0 |
| 1910s | 5,651 | 0 |
| 1920s | 6,063 | under 100 |
| 1930s | 4,004 | 790 |
| 1940s | 2,074 | 1,100 |
| 1950s | 1,122 | 870 |
| 1960s | 462 | 400 |
| 1970s | 346 | 320 |
| 1980s | 271 | 260 |
| 1990s | 259 | 260 |
| 2000s | 259 | 260 |
| 2010s | 579 | 580 |
| 2020s | 696 | 690 |
How many Nells are still alive?
About 5,600 Nells are alive in the US today. That's 20% of the roughly 28,000 babies named Nell since 1880.
Most Nells ever born have died: the name was most popular in 1917, long enough ago that many of those babies are gone.
What generation is the name Nell?
About one in four living Nells are Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964.
Is Nell an old name?
Yes. Nell is older than 83 in 100 names on AgeByName.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Nell will be 29 in 2056, so its average age will actually fall, as the youngest Nells make up more of the total.
Is Nell a boy or girl name?
Almost entirely girls: 99.9% of living Nells are women.
Names the same age as Nell
NAME TWIN
Nell's name twin is Nellie. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Nellie's age curve is the closest match to Nell's: 93% alike.
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Questions about the name Nell
How old is the average Nell?
The average Nell in the US is 55 years old. The median is 67, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Nell?
About 5,600 Nells are alive in the US today, out of roughly 28,000 babies given the name since 1880.
When was the name Nell most popular?
In 1917, when about 770 baby girls were named Nell.
Is Nell a Boomer name?
Partly. Baby Boomers are the largest group, about 28% of living Nells, but the name spans several generations.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this