MINNIE  

Gender: F
Origin: Diminutive of WILHELMINA or MINERVA

Wildly popular in the early 1900s and completely obscure today. Blame Mickey's girlfriend. Though the up and coming trend toward old-fashioned nickname-names -- think Maisie, Mamie, Millie -- may give Minnie (all on its own, not as a short form of anything) a new moment in the sun.

Variations:
Mini, Minie, Minny, Minni, Minne

Minnie is being discussed in our message boards:

• Short List--your thoughts?
• What about Minerva?
• Do you like the name Daphne?
• Naming a girl after William or George
• Does Sophie work as a nn for Josephine?

Read Nameberry blog posts about Minnie:

• THE LOST NAMES OF 1880
• SCOTTISH BABY NAMES: What's 'in' in Inverness?
• THE CUTEST CELEBRITY BABY NAMES
• NEW YORK BABY NAMES: Big competition in the Big Apple
• HOORAY FOR HENRY: The quirky classic that manages to stay cool