Nellie

Nellie is a pet form most commonly linked to Eleanor, though it has also served as a nickname for Ellen and Helen, and even as a shortening of Nelson and Chanel. Eleanor's own roots are debated among scholars, but one widely accepted account traces it through Old French to Germanic elements meaning "riches" and "fame."

Nellie has an old-fashioned warmth to it, homey and affectionate without being fussy. It suits a pet who feels like part of the family furniture, steady and much loved.