Nelly is the proud dad to eldest daughter Chanelle Haynes, whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend, Channetta Valentine, who gave birth to Chanelle in 1994 after they began dating in September 1990. Valentine maintains a low profile, while Chanelle shows interest in the music business. In June 2017, Chanelle held a live performance during the We Are LAXclusive's "Ladies Night" showcase. She previously hosted a series of events known as Love Lyrics, which gives independent artists a platform to perform their music. In a YouTube video highlighting the fourth annual Love Lyrics, which took place in December 2019, she once again grabbed the mic. Still, even with her creative endeavors, Chanelle sought a business degree from Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. Chanelle had her first child, a son named Ace, in November 2023. While she may have taken a step back from music, Chanelle seems to be enjoying motherhood.

Nelly also shares a son, Cornell Haynes III, known as Tre, with Valentine. He entered the world in March 1999 and showed promising signs that he would pursue a sports career. He played football throughout high school, with several images from his time on the field still displayed on his Instagram account. However, like his dad and sister, Tre has a love for music and now works as a record producer. It appears Tre also developed a passion for traveling, sharing photos from destinations such as Greece and Italy.