Nelli
Girl name · #5152 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nelli? In official American birth records, Nelli has been tracked continuously since 1977, giving it 48 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 25 baby girls were named Nelli, placing it at #5152 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #10866, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 72,000 girls born in 2025 was named Nelli.
The 48-year story
Nelli first appears in the Social Security records in 1977, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 25 girls were named Nelli — good for #5091 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Nelli per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nelli against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nelli in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nelli is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nelli will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nelli is most common
State-level data for Nelli is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Nelli
Statistically, parents drawn to Nelli tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Milli, Noeli, Nyeli, Adali, and Nani.
MilliNoeliNyeliAdaliNaniNiomiElliMetzli
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nelli | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #5099 |
| 2024 | 19 | #6167 |
| 2023 | 19 | #6169 |
| 2022 | 20 | #5984 |
| 2021 | 25 | #5091 |
| 2020 | 19 | #6083 |
| 2019 | 22 | #5612 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7409 |
| 2017 | 11 | #9341 |
| 2016 | 7 | #12876 |
| 2015 | 9 | #10866 |
| 2014 | 11 | #9517 |
| 2013 | 13 | #8580 |
| 2012 | 10 | #10429 |
| 2011 | 15 | #7783 |
| 2010 | 13 | #8701 |
| 2009 | 12 | #9379 |
| 2008 | 19 | #6799 |
| 2007 | 14 | #8520 |
| 2006 | 15 | #7868 |
| 2005 | 7 | #13010 |
| 2004 | 7 | #12761 |
| 2003 | 9 | #10425 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12187 |
| 2001 | 10 | #9351 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nelli?
In official American birth records, the name Nelli first appeared in 1977 (over 48 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 48 years.
Is Nelli a popular girl name?
Nelli ranked #5152 among girls in 2025 with 25 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #10866.
When was the name Nelli most popular?
Nelli peaked in 2021, when 25 American girls received the name (ranked #5091 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nelli?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 72,000 newborn American girls was named Nelli. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.