The term "ned" is a truncation of the word "nerd", which is a slang term used to describe a highly intelligent or knowledgeable person, often in a derogatory or dismissive way. The first known use of the word "nerd" was in Dr. Seuss's 1950 book "If I Ran the Zoo", although it did not become popularized until the late 1960s.
"First reader" is a term that refers to a person who begins to learn how to read. It may refer to a child or an adult, but it is most commonly used to describe a beginning reader in a school setting.