Boyish Nicknames for Girls
- Bobby
Origin:
Diminutive of Roberta, EnglishMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Bobby is a nickname-name that's long been used on its own for both girls and boys, though the Bobby spelling is more usually masculine while the girls' version is usually Bobbie. There were just over 50 baby girls named Bobbie in one recent year and only five named Bobby, compared with nearly 300 baby boys named Bobby. Robert F. Kennedy III and Amaryllis Fox named their daughter Bobby, continuing the family tradition across genders. And Millie Bobby Brown is a hot young actress.
- Mikey
Origin:
Diminutive of Michele or Michaela, HebrewMeaning:
"who is like God"Description:
Mikey is one of the wave of boyish nicknames newly popular for girls. Mikie is another spelling.
- Donnie
Origin:
Short form of Donald, ScottishMeaning:
"proud chief"Description:
Donnie is definitely cuter for a girl than a boy, one of a gang of boyish nicknames for girls very fashionable today.
- Reggie
Origin:
Diminutive of Regina, LatinMeaning:
"queen"Description:
Boyish short form of Regina, which is so clunky it's cool. Reggie has a retro charm that feels fresh again. Female Reggies include Reggie Rocket from Rocket Power, adding a sporty, spunky vibe to this quirky name.
- Mack
Origin:
Scottish, IrishMeaning:
"son of"Description:
Mack, a no-nonsense nickname with roots in Mackenzie, is part of the growing trend of boyish names for girls. Its crisp, modern feel gives it standout appeal alongside similar picks like Max and Drew. Not often heard on girls, although Hillary Scott used it as the middle name for her daughter Betsy in 2018.
- Charli
Origin:
Variation of Charlie, English diminutive of Charlotte, French "free man"Meaning:
"free man"Description:
Charli may be the new Charlie, which is the cooler Charlotte. British singer-songwriter Charli (born Charlotte) XCX, creator of the hit album Brat, and TikTok star Charli D'Amelio popularized the Charli spelling.
- Robbie
Origin:
Diminutive of Roberta, English from GermanMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Roberta and Robert may be so far out they're...still out, but Robbie might make one of the trendy new boyish nicknames for girls a la Scottie and Charlie. Actress Margot Robbie gave it a surname spin.
- Landie
Origin:
English, South AfricanMeaning:
"land; violet; landowner; country"Description:
A unisex nickname style name, similar in sound and feel to Andie, Candy, Indy, or Danny, Landie could be a short form of any name including the land element. This includes Holland, Orlanda, Scotland, or Ireland.
- Neely
Origin:
English diminutive of Cornelia, Eleanor, Helena, or McNeilly, English, ScottishMeaning:
"horn; shining torch; son of the poet"Description:
A nickname style name, Neely could derive from the strong sounding Cornelia, as a playful alternative to Nelly from Eleanor and Helena, or as a variation of the Scottish surname McNeilly, with the cool meaning "son of the poet".
- Albie
Origin:
Diminutive of Alba, Alberta or Albertine, feminine forms of Albert, GermanMeaning:
"noble and bright"Description:
Sweet old-school nickname name currently trending for boys in the UK, but could also be short for Alba, Alberta or Albertine. Part of a growing trend of using boyish nicknames for girls, Albie could be the next tomboy name to hit the playgrounds.
- Jam
Origin:
Short form of Jamila, James, Jamesina and similar, Arabic, English, Hebrew, PersianMeaning:
"beautiful; the supplanter; twin"Description:
Sweet and simple, Jam is a name with variety of roots. As a playful short form, it could come from the Arabic Jamila meaning "beautiful" or from one of its derivatives, such as Jamari or Jamariah. Equally, it could be a form of Jamesina or Benjamina, along with any other feminizations of the classic boy names.
- Vinny
Origin:
Diminutive of Lavinia or feminization of VincentDescription:
Vinny or more usually Vinnie, believe it or not, used to a more common nickname for girls than it is now. Along with Ollie, Bertie, and Gussie. it was a 19th century version of a gender neutral name.
- Moe
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"delivered"Description:
Traditionally a masculine diminutive of Moses, Moe could work equally well as a short, sweet, gender-bending nickname for girls – perhaps from Ramona, Moana, Imogen, or Monroe.
- Vinnie
Origin:
English, diminutive of LaviniaDescription:
A winning, gold locket nickname name of the turn of the last century, though also a common nickname for Vincent.
- Rafe
Origin:
Diminutive of RalphMeaning:
"wolf-counsel"Description:
Used almost exclusively for boys in England; Rafe would make for an amiable choice here -- whether as a nickname for Rafaela or standing on its own. This is one of the sleeker tomboy names for girls, alongside Drew and Indie.
- Artie
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"bear"Description:
Artie is usually short for Arthur, but with boyish nicknames like Billie and Frankie rising it may be time to consider Artie for a girl too. Artie works as a sweet retro tomboy name, a possible nickname for Artemis or Arlette, and a way to honor Grandpa Arthur.
- Monty
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"pointed hill"Description:
Diminutive of Montague or Montgomery that has long been used as a standalone for boys – and for a few girls too, especially during the middle years of the 20th century. It has largely fallen out of favor, though it is frequently used as a standalone boys'name across the pond. With boyish nicknames for girls - a la Charie and Stevie - on trend, Monty has the chance to come back.
- Lonnie
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lion"Description:
An old-timey boyish nickname that works as a diminutive of Leona or Leonie, Alondra, Lorna or any female name with strong L and N sounds.
- Marti
Description:
Marti is a versatile name used for both girls and boys, though more commonly feminine in recent decades. As a feminine name, it often serves as a nickname for Martha (Aramaic for 'lady' or 'mistress') or Martina (feminine form of Martin, derived from Mars, the Roman god of war). As a masculine name, it's frequently a diminutive of Martin. In Spanish-speaking cultures, Martí (with an accent) is a Catalan surname and given name. The short, punchy quality of Marti gives it a casual, friendly appeal while retaining connections to its more formal origins. The name saw modest popularity in the United States during the 1950s-1970s, particularly for girls. Marti projects an unpretentious, approachable quality with vintage charm and cross-cultural appeal.
- Rafa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"happiness, prosperity"Description:
Sounds a bit like a shortening of Rafael or a condensation of Rafaela, but Rafa is a name in its own right. Whether you use it as a full name or a nickname, Rafa's casual coolness could allow it to follow in the footsteps of other tomboy names for girls, like Billie and Scout.
