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HelpNell(e) and Parnell
Nell / Nelle as a full name. WDYT? The Nelle spelling, I like as a hat-tip to Nelle Harper Lee...but at the moment, I like the simplicity of Nell. It just feels a bit...audacious to me, you know? Daring, in a Victorian sort of way. ;)
The only name I like it as a nickname for is Parnell (see Parnel), which I pronounce with the stress on the second syllable. Do you think the issue of parnel-the-word would be a problem? I'd never heard of it before I looked the name up here (and if it's that obscure it really doesn't bother me at all); I think that if people associated the name with anything, it'd be with the mystery author Parnell Hall (who is a man, but that doesn't bother me, either).
So Nell, Nelle, and Parnell nn Nell. Thoughts? Thanks. :)
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The only name I like it as a nickname for is Parnell (see Parnel), which I pronounce with the stress on the second syllable. Do you think the issue of parnel-the-word would be a problem? I'd never heard of it before I looked the name up here (and if it's that obscure it really doesn't bother me at all); I think that if people associated the name with anything, it'd be with the mystery author Parnell Hall (who is a man, but that doesn't bother me, either).
So Nell, Nelle, and Parnell nn Nell. Thoughts? Thanks. :)
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This message was edited 8/17/2007, 11:36 AM
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Replies
I love Nell and Nelle.
Parnell unfortunately only has negative connotations for me. It was the surname of the guy who, in 1972, abducted 7-year-old Steven Stayner and abused him for seven years before Steven escaped with a new young child that Parnell had just abducted. The case was turned into a mini-series and later a movie named "I Know My First Name is Steven", which we watched in Early Childhood Studies when I was in high school. Parnell is also the surname of a guy who's just been charged with murdering his ex-partner here in Perth.
So the name makes my skin crawl, sorry!
Parnelle wouldn't be as bad as it's less masculine and therefore doesn't have the male-creep aura for me. Also, Peronelle would be gorgeous. Do either of those interest you?
Parnell unfortunately only has negative connotations for me. It was the surname of the guy who, in 1972, abducted 7-year-old Steven Stayner and abused him for seven years before Steven escaped with a new young child that Parnell had just abducted. The case was turned into a mini-series and later a movie named "I Know My First Name is Steven", which we watched in Early Childhood Studies when I was in high school. Parnell is also the surname of a guy who's just been charged with murdering his ex-partner here in Perth.
So the name makes my skin crawl, sorry!
Parnelle wouldn't be as bad as it's less masculine and therefore doesn't have the male-creep aura for me. Also, Peronelle would be gorgeous. Do either of those interest you?
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I think Nell/Nelle is really nice
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"Come Out Ye Black and Tans" makes some reference to an Irish Parnell. I know a shamefully small amout of Irish history so I can't tell you what he did, but that's what it reminds me of straight away.
I know a few Parnells (as in, people with that surname). So it's pretty surnamey to me, though not unattractive. Petronel and Petronella appeal to me more but I know you're not into that. :-)
If you're up for suggestions, as 'full' names for Nell I like to some degree:
Cornelia, Cornelie, or Kornelia
Antonella
Fenella
Ionela
Marinella
Marianela
Nigella (a glaring guilty pleasure of mine)
Helena or Helene
Hm. That's about it. I'm not feeling it'll be a very fruitful list for you, though. I like Nell a lot on its own anyway. I feel the same way that you decribed about Mame.
I know a few Parnells (as in, people with that surname). So it's pretty surnamey to me, though not unattractive. Petronel and Petronella appeal to me more but I know you're not into that. :-)
If you're up for suggestions, as 'full' names for Nell I like to some degree:
Cornelia, Cornelie, or Kornelia
Antonella
Fenella
Ionela
Marinella
Marianela
Nigella (a glaring guilty pleasure of mine)
Helena or Helene
Hm. That's about it. I'm not feeling it'll be a very fruitful list for you, though. I like Nell a lot on its own anyway. I feel the same way that you decribed about Mame.
This message was edited 8/17/2007, 6:28 PM
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I never knew anything about the name or word Parnel, so that's news to me. But if that was my name and I found out what it meant, I don't think I'd like it. Do you like Petronel at all (seeing as it's related to Parnel)? I think I'd totally prefer Nell on its own to Parnell nn Nell. And I like Harper Lee, but I don't love Nelle (though it's better than Parnel, too, imo). I like Nell best as a nn for Eleanor or Penelope, personally, but those are a tad bit dull. ;)
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Honestly, I've been looking around, and I've yet to find a reference to that usage of Parnel outside of BtN. It's likely true, but it seems to be insanely esoteric at this point.
I really dislike Petronel, actually. D: And as for Elenore and Penelope, they'd be Lennie and Penny, obviously. ;)
Thanks.
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I really dislike Petronel, actually. D: And as for Elenore and Penelope, they'd be Lennie and Penny, obviously. ;)
Thanks.
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I absolutely adore Nell / Nelle. It's my favorite girl name, as of right now. It strikes me as sweet, gentle, and classy. Like you, I went looking for an appropriate full name for it, but came up with Nichelle.
I doubt the meaning of Parnel would be a problem, since so few people are aware that Parnel was once a bad word. Remember that Molly came back after people forgot that a moll was a prostitute. That being said, I'm not a real fan of Parnel (too masculine maybe?). What about Pernel? It sounds like a cross between Parnel and Pearl. It's much more feminine to my ears.
I doubt the meaning of Parnel would be a problem, since so few people are aware that Parnel was once a bad word. Remember that Molly came back after people forgot that a moll was a prostitute. That being said, I'm not a real fan of Parnel (too masculine maybe?). What about Pernel? It sounds like a cross between Parnel and Pearl. It's much more feminine to my ears.
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I'm really not too worried about this parnel-as-a-word thing. If you look it up on m-w.com, it doesn't even show up--it's clearly pretty darned obscure.
Pernel doesn't do anything for me, though. The resemblance to Pearl is what bothers me; I had a very bad run-in with a Pearl once, and it's put me off the name entirely.
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Pernel doesn't do anything for me, though. The resemblance to Pearl is what bothers me; I had a very bad run-in with a Pearl once, and it's put me off the name entirely.
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I agree, Nell seems sort of daring in a Victorian sort of way. I like it, on it's own or as a nn for Parnell. I would associate Parnell with, well, nothing. Go for it, it's a nice name. I don't think there would be many associations with anything (other than the author). I prefer Nell as a nn to Parnell.
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I like Nell and I can see what you mean by it being audacious in a Victorian way. Isn't there a Nell in Brat Farrar?
Parnell is unusable to me because it is associated with Charles Stewart Parnell a major figure in Irish 19th century politics.
It also seems like a boy's name to me. I prefer Petronel.
Because it's an obscure word I wouldn't worry about others knowing the meaning of it but young Parnell herself might mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stewart_Parnell
Parnell is unusable to me because it is associated with Charles Stewart Parnell a major figure in Irish 19th century politics.
It also seems like a boy's name to me. I prefer Petronel.
Because it's an obscure word I wouldn't worry about others knowing the meaning of it but young Parnell herself might mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stewart_Parnell
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Parnell is typical a male name
Can it really be called a typically male name? It's incredibly uncommon on either sex. I can see the argument for it being masculine, since it's also a surname and surnames generally end up thought as masculine (well, they used to), but the fact that it's A) also etymologically appropriate for a girl and B) not exactly top on the boys' hit parade makes it hard for me to see the justification in calling it absolutely masculine.
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Can it really be called a typically male name? It's incredibly uncommon on either sex. I can see the argument for it being masculine, since it's also a surname and surnames generally end up thought as masculine (well, they used to), but the fact that it's A) also etymologically appropriate for a girl and B) not exactly top on the boys' hit parade makes it hard for me to see the justification in calling it absolutely masculine.
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This message was edited 8/17/2007, 1:29 PM
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Well, I guess I should have said that typically the Parnells I meet are male. I have never met a female Parnell but many male Parnells. I see it often on male African Americans in their 20's-50's. I think they consider it a variation on Darnell.
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Nell is nice, but I think it works better as a nickname. I don't like Nelle or Parnel.
What about Petronel or Petronella?
What about Petronel or Petronella?
This message was edited 8/17/2007, 12:16 PM
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Dislike Petronel. Love Petronella, but I'd call her Penny; I'm quite serious when I say that I don't like Nell as a nickname for pretty much anything else, alas. Elenore would be Lennie, Petronella would be Penny, and so on and so forth. ^^;; Thus, Parnell (I wouldn't use Parnel, either--it doesn't look "right" to me, for whatever reason).
Thanks!
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Thanks!
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I like Nell and Nelle. I think, for some reason, I prefer Nell as a nickname, and Nelle as a full name.
Parnell isn't bad, I kind of like the idea of hearing it on someone else's child - I just wouldn't use it myself. I would definetly use the nickname Nell, though.
Parnell isn't bad, I kind of like the idea of hearing it on someone else's child - I just wouldn't use it myself. I would definetly use the nickname Nell, though.
This message was edited 8/17/2007, 12:11 PM
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I like Nell a lot! The extra 'e' seems unnecessary - I agree about the simplicity of Nell. Nelle seems frilly to me.
I'd prefer Nell be a nickname though, since it's almost too simple. Parnell is a good idea - I've never heard of the word before, so I can't see it being a problem. My first association is Chris Parnell, actually, not that that's a bad thing. :)
Parnell nn Nell looks good to me!
I'd prefer Nell be a nickname though, since it's almost too simple. Parnell is a good idea - I've never heard of the word before, so I can't see it being a problem. My first association is Chris Parnell, actually, not that that's a bad thing. :)
Parnell nn Nell looks good to me!
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I love Nell. It's one of my top 10 names, maybe top 5...I like it as a nn for Eleanor, but I also think it can stand alone. The spelling Nelle looks froofy to me. I agree with the audacious Victorian comment, and I like a lot of other names that I associate similarly -- Nancy, Aggie, Elsie, Ruby, etc.
I didn't know of the parnel-as-a-word association either, but Parnel / Parnell seems very masculine to me, although I hadn't heard of the author.
Unfortunately, I don't like the nn Nellie at all. We had a dog named Nellie when I was growing up and I just can't shake the association -- it sounds like a dog's name to me. So I'm not sure that I would actually use Nell, for that reason.
I didn't know of the parnel-as-a-word association either, but Parnel / Parnell seems very masculine to me, although I hadn't heard of the author.
Unfortunately, I don't like the nn Nellie at all. We had a dog named Nellie when I was growing up and I just can't shake the association -- it sounds like a dog's name to me. So I'm not sure that I would actually use Nell, for that reason.
This message was edited 8/17/2007, 11:49 AM
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