I need an elegant/stately name with a snappy/brisk/sleek nickname.

[briar]

I have a character in a completed manuscript (which is what's making this so hard!) named Bernadette “Brett” (named after a wealthy grandma, but goes by her nickname almost exclusively) which suites her perfectly… but unfortunatly I have to change it for various reasons. Can you think of an elegant name suitable for a senator’s daughter but with a snappy/brisk/sleek nickname? The nickname doesn’t have to be totally obvious (ie. I’ve thought about Isobel Victoria “Ivy”).

If it matters she’s 17, short-ish blonde hair and green eyes, petite, studious but extroverted, capable, and too mature for her age. She's very much in the public eye and aspires to be a photo journalist.

Also I’d like to stay away from R and J names if possible because they are names of the other main characters.

Thanks so much, this is totally stressing me out!!

[lakin5]

Cornelia nicknamed Cori or Nella! Victoria nicknamed Tori or Ria! Ariella nickname Aria! Louise/Louisa nicknamed Lou! Rachel nicknamed Ray!

[shonenhaiku]

Besides Victoria and Isabella, perhaps...

Alexandria nn Alex
Ambrosia nn Amber
Charlotte nn Charlie
Eleanore nn Ellie or Elle

[kala_way]

Antoinette (Andie, Netta, Toni)
Nicolette (Nick, Colt)
Georgette (Geo, Georgie)
Marietta (Marty, Rhett)
Violette (Oli)

[beebear]

October nn Toby (cool one I heard the other day)
Claudia
Cordelia
Georgina
Henrietta
Harriet
Adelaide nn Dell
Francesca nn Chess

Those kind of had the same feel for me as Bernadette. I'm not so good with nicknames, I usually end up just taking what I hear. Sucks you couldn't use Brett, that sounded perfect. Good luck though

Oh, and I like pp suggestion of Nicolette nn Colt.

[erinlw]

I'll give it a go...

Evelyn nn Evie
Katherine nn Kate
Olivia nn Liv
Lucy nn Lulu or Luce
Rebecca nn Bex
Caroline nn Carrie

[nono]

Loretta / Coretta nn Rhett
Aloisia nn Lola
Ernestine nn Ness / Nessa / Nesta
Theodora nn Theo
Rosemary nn Romy
Bernice nn Berry
Maxine nn Max
Frances / Francine nn Frankie
Mabel nn Mab
Camille / Camilla nn Cal

[jasmine.lee]

Francesca nn Frankie
Wilhelmina nn Wil/Minnie
Penelope nn Nel/Nelly
Priscilla nn Cil
Cordelia nn Dell
Harriet nn Harry
Henrietta nn Henry
Genevieve nn Viv/Neve
Vivian nn Viv
Tallulah nn Lou

~Jasmine

[bluejuniper]

Cordelia (Cordy)
Brynnley (Brynn)
Felicia (Lia)
Prudence (Prue, Rue)
Darissa (Issy)
Narcissa (Nissy)
Zenobia (Zen)
Florentina (Flo, Tina)
Valentina (Val, Tina)
Novabelle (Nova)
Patricia (Trixie)
Clementine (Lemon)
Quintessence (Quinn)
Cadence (Cady)

[spunkiedoodle]

Marguerite (Rita)
Lucinda (Lou, Lucy)
Susan (Sukie)
Patrice (Reese)
Frances (Frankie)
Marietta/ Henrietta/ Juliet (Etta)
Amanda (Andie)