Nella
Fact sheet
- Name
- Nella
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 2
Nella is a female first name that is used as a diminutive for names that end with the syllable '-nella'. This is particularly common with Cornelia and Petronella.
What does the name Nella mean?
The name Nella comes from names that end with '-nella', particularly Cornelia and Petronella. In its meaning, the name can be interpreted as 'the Horned' or 'of the Cornelian family', while it can also be understood as 'the Simpleton' or 'of the Petronian family'. The origins of both names are rooted in Latin, with 'cornū' meaning 'the horn' and 'petrō/petronis' meaning 'the vagabond', 'the simpleton', 'the bumpkin', or 'the hayseed'. Additionally, Nella is considered a Serbo-Croatian diminutive of Daniela and is also an Italian short form of Antonella, Marinella, and Ornella. Other variants include Neele, Nehle, Nelia, Nellike, Neliah, and Enelia.
Where does the name Nella come from?
The name Nella has its roots in Latin and means 'the Horned' or 'the Simpleton'. It is derived from Cornelia: cornū = the horn (Latin) and Petronella: petrō or petronis = the vagabond, simpleton, bumpkin, hayseed (Latin). The languages in which the name appears are German, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian.
How do you pronounce Nella?
The pronunciation of the name Nella is soft and two-syllable. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'Nel-la' [ˈnɛla], starting with an open E sound that feels friendly. The double L harmoniously connects the syllables, while the open A gives the name a warm finish. Thus, Nella presents itself as harmonious, approachable, and feminine.
When is the name day of Nella?
Nella's name day is celebrated on March 31 and September 16.
Popularity
In Germany, the name Nella enjoys great popularity. Currently, it ranks 1,333rd on the list of the most common female first names. Nella reached its best ranking in 2011 at 790th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 290 times, earning it a position of 1,261 in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,270th.
Nicknames & pet names
Nell / Nellena / Nelli / Nelloni / Nellse / Nelse / Pimpinella
Similar first names
Famous people
- Nella Bielski (French writer)
- Nella Dodds (American actress)
- Nella Larsen (American writer)
- Nella Last (English writer)
- Nella Maria Bonora (actress from Italy)
- Nella Martinetti (singer)
- Nella Walker (actress from America)
Frequently asked questions about the name Nella
What is the origin of the name Nella?
The name Nella has its roots in Latin and is derived from Cornelia and Petronella.
What does the first name Nella mean?
Nella can be interpreted as 'the Horned' or 'the Simpleton', based on its Latin origins.
How popular is the name Nella?
Nella enjoys moderate popularity in various countries such as Germany and Italy and is often used as a diminutive.