Medieval diminutive of names beginning with El, such as <a href="details.php?no=&n=ELEANOR">ELEANOR</a>, <a href="details.php?no=&n=ELLEN++%281%29">ELLEN (1)</a> or <a href="details.php?no=&n=HELEN">HELEN</a>. It may have arisen from the medieval affectionate phrase mine El, which was later reinterpreted as my Nel.