Nicknames for Girls

  1. Tallie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Talia, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gentle dew from heaven"
    • Description:

      Tallie is a seldom-heard nickname name that, with the ascendance of Hallie and Callie, we might just be hearing more of.
  2. Busy
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Yes, it's a word name, but Busy is also a rare pet form of Elizabeth. And yes, actress Busy Philipps was christened Elizabeth--she was given the nickname because she was such an active child. She must have been happy with the name, because she also gave her daughters adorable unique baby names, Birdie and Cricket.
  3. Nan
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Nancy
    • Description:

      Bobbsey Twins-era nickname name that could find new life via Nan, heroine of The Nanny Diaries. Nan was also the nickname of Annabel St George, the protagonist of Edith Wharton's novel "The Buccaneers".
  4. Aggie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Agatha and Agnes
    • Description:

      Mauve-tinted nickname with vintage charm that could just follow in the footsteps of ABBIE. More prominent now as the nickname for the Texas A&M sports teams.
  5. Gabby
    • Description:

      Gabby is a feminine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a familiar diminutive for Gabrielle, Gabriella, or Abigail. Derived ultimately from the Hebrew name Gabriel, meaning 'God is my strength,' Gabby projects a friendly, approachable personality. The name rose in popularity during the late 20th century as parents increasingly chose casual-sounding names as official given names. Gabby carries a cheerful, energetic quality that often matches its meaning in slang as someone who is talkative. In sports contexts, the name gained visibility through notable athletes like Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas. While maintaining its casual charm, Gabby offers versatility as its bearer can always opt for a more formal version in professional settings.

  6. Lella
    • Origin:

      Italian diminutive of names ending in -ella or Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "lady"
    • Description:

      Lella is a diminutive of names like Gabriella, Raffaella, or Donatella, conveying affection and familiarity. In Arabic cultures, Lella is an honorific title meaning 'lady' or 'madam,' used particularly in North African regions to show respect to women of importance.
  7. Flo
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Florence, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "flourishing, prosperous"
    • Description:

      Flo is an antiquated nickname not often used these days, possibly because "Aunt Flo" is a euphemism for a period.
  8. Hazy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive form of Hazel, English word name
    • Meaning:

      "the hazelnut tree; foggy, misty atmosphere"
    • Description:

      Weather inspired choices from Sunny to Stormi are currently in vogue, and Hazy could be a contender to replace 70s star Misty. Referring to fog and dry, dusty air, "haze" is an atmospheric phenomenon in which the visibility of the sky is obscured, in turn evoking imagery of hazy, summer days. Alternatively, it might be used a diminutive of popular Hazel, inspired by the likes of Daisy and Maisie.
  9. Lil
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Lillian and Lily, flower name
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Spunky old vaudeville era nickname name suddenly sounds new again.
  10. Chani
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Channah or Chandra, Hebrew or Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "grace or goddess of the moon"
    • Description:

      Chani, which rhymes with Johnny, is famous as the name of the character played by Zendaya in the Dune books, video games, and movies. Another force driving the name's use is Canadian astrologer Chani Nicholas.
  11. Florrie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Florence and Flora
    • Description:

      A sweet Bobbsey-twin era nickname, fluffy and floral.
  12. Fliss
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Felicity
    • Meaning:

      "good fortune, happy"
    • Description:

      Gentle yet sassy, Fliss is a short form of Felicity that has the spark of Flick, the softness of Lissy, and the cutesiness of Fifi.
  13. Loie
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "understanding"
    • Description:

      Unique and unusual as a nickname and a stand-alone name, Loie is a vintage choice worth reviving. It is traditionally used as a short form of Lois and Louise but would work as a nickname for any Lo- starting name, or even names such as Laura, Eloise, and Charlotte.
  14. Tibby
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Cute and unusual as a nickname, but lacking the legs to stand on its own.
  15. Kota
    • Origin:

      English, Native American
    • Meaning:

      "allies, friends"
    • Description:

      Also used as an exclusively masculine name in Japan and India, as an English name, Kota likely derives from the poplar Dakota. Similar in sound and feel to Kali, Noa, Kora, Koa, and the aforementioned Dakota, it started to be quietly given to girls in the late 2000s.
  16. Cass
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Cassandra or Cassia, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "shining or excelling man; cinnamon"
    • Description:

      Ties to the unfortunate Mama are now unraveling, leaving Cass or Cassie to stand on its own as a fresher sounding Cathy or Kate. With gender-neutral names abound and the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls, Cass may be on the up and up.
  17. Suze
    • Origin:

      Dutch short form of Suzanne or Susan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Suze can be a diminutive of Susan or Susanne.' Suze also exists as an independent Dutch name, pronounced SHU-sha,
  18. Rilda
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of names ending -rilda
    • Meaning:

      "battle"
    • Description:

      With a hint of ruggedness and strength about it, but quirky, retro vibes too, Rilda is a rare nickname name. Similar to Tilda or Hilda, it comes from names ending -rild or -rilda, such as Serilda, Everild, Arilda, or Astrild, though it might also be used for the likes of Sarahild, Reinhild, or Romilda. Regardless, it comes from the Old Norse or Germanic elements hildr and hilt, both meaning "battle".
  19. Sebbie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Sebastiane, Sebastia, and Sebastienne, Latin, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "person from Sebastia"
    • Description:

      A nickname style choice inspired by the popular boy name Sebastian, Sebbie has the zippy feel of Libby and Effie, the rugged charm of Stevie and Frankie, and the cutesy feel of Sunny and Mimi. Rarely used as a standalone name, it is borne by a (female) character in Ransom Riggs' book series, Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children.
  20. Magdi
    • Origin:

      Hungarian
    • Meaning:

      "from Magdala"
    • Description:

      Magdi is a cute Hungarian nickname name, short for Magdolna, the Hungarian form of Magdalene. While it isn't traditionally used on its own, its cute sound similar to stand-alone Magda or the familiar Maggie makes it an attractive choice. A notable namesake is Hungarian singer Magdolna "Magdi" Rúzsa.

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