New Routes to Old Nicknames

Just a nitpick: Lucy is not a nickname, it is a full name in its own right.

Nan is a nickname for Anne, as is Nancy.

This is true, but although Lucy is a name in its own right, it did come to be used as a pet form of Lucille (as in I Love Lucy/Lucille Ball) and in the modern era, Nan is used as a short form of Nancy, despite its origins, and rarely as as a nickname for Ann. In this case, we were dealing with current usage.

I talk to parents all the time who are having this problem.

Maggie is a big one for those who don’t care for Margaret. I love Magdalena for that one. Josie could be for Jocelyn rather than Josephine (though I prefer the latter).

Some of the full names on this list are really spectacular!

I love the name Cormac. I knew a kid named Cormac and thought it was the coolest name ever. Haha.

Donald is my grandfather’s name, and I like the nickname Don, but hate Donald. Donovan is a great way to still honor him.
Great suggestions

Thanks!

Any suggestions for Nate? I love that name but not so much Nathan/Nathaniel

How about Maxfield for Max? It’s my son’s name and everyone always “ooohs” about it when they hear his full name.

Love this list! We named our first Eliana (nn Ellie) and like that she can go by a more unusual or common name depending on her age/personality. We’re pregnant with our second and will go with Matthias (Matt) or Josiah (Joey) for a boy…we’re still on the fence with a girl name, but we definitely want it to follow the same idea.

My Great Aunt was Josie but her real name was Joanne