Elissa vs Nell
Elissa and Nellcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Elissa was ranked #873 and Nell #189 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elissa was ranked #1021 and Nell #400 among girls in England and Wales.
Elissa and Nell over time
Elissa and Nell appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Nell held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Elissa in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Elissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Nell in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elissa held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Nell in 23.
Highest recorded here: Elissa #407 in 2012, Nell #263 in 2022.
The order changed in 2013: Nell moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #407 and #410; by 2013 that had become #456 and #345.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elissa #1021, Nell #400.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Elissa | Nell |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1021 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #115 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elissa has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Nell.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Elissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2012 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1021 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Nell
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #257 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #114 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls