Nellie's full name?

[samfinasara]

OK I'm going to sound somewhat obsessive here... I noticed while skimming my Samantha books the other day that even though "Nellie" is technically a nickname, they never mention what her full name is. So does anyone have an idea? Is there a version of "Eleanor" or "Helen" that could have been used in turn-of-the-century Ireland? All I can find is "Aileen" or "Eileen".

Aimee

[dianasmama]

Could it just be Nell? I've a friend from church and that is her name.

[samfinasara]

Oh, I guess it could be. I honestly didn't consider that. [img]smile.gif[/img] It isn't that important, but I'm trying to think of a middle name for her (for when I get her) and it would help to know her initials. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Aimee

[moderator]

I think it's a good question! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Like you mentioned, "Nellie" is from the name Helen technically, but I don't know if Nellie's real name is Helen. Maybe they'll say in the book!

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ June 19, 2004 10:42 PM: Message edited by: Melissa ]</font>

[Pat B]

Nellies name could be short for Eileen or Helen . There are no saints names similar to Nell or Nellie. She will probably be called by her real name in school and Nellie by her friends. Brigid is the name of an Irish saint. Jenny is a celtic name perhaps derived from Gwenivere. My choice for Nellies middle name is Fidelma from the mystery series set in Medieval Ireland by Tremayne.
It will be interesting to see how Nellies story develops ( more books-are you listening AG???)
Will Agnes and Agatha be jealous and pull some pranks. Will someone not want them admitted to a certain school ?

[Kathy Henning]

I know that Nellie is a nickname for Helen.My grandmother's name was Helen and I knew this from doing a family tree for my daughter's baby book. I always called her Grandma. We adopted our Schnauzer from the SPCA and I named her Nellie. My mom asked me why I named our dog after my grandmother. I had no idea that she was called Nellie.

[Kathrine]

I just found a "Most popular girl's names in the 1900s" and Helen was actually the 2nd most popular name then, so I guess it is very possible that it is Nellie's real name.
Isn't Samantha's aunt called Cornelia, it would be very sweet if that was Nellie's real name wouldn't it? Besides I think Cornelia is such a cool name [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Kathrine]

Found another list with the 1000! most popular girl's names in the 1920s. Nellie is 48.
Other posible names that could have had Nellie as a nickname is:
55:Ella
56:Lillie
65:Eleanor
78:Ellen
95:Nora
113:Nettie (but that already sounds like a nickname)
124:Estelle
128:Kathleen
202:Nell
238:Eileen
I looked through til about 300, if anyone wants to look further here's the link http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/19...1000of00s.html

[AGTeacher]

I also found Nellie in the Greek names! It means the bright one.

[Pat B]

There are several Saints called Gwen and one Gwendolin . An Irish Catholic girl would have been named after a saint.