Nicknames for Brianna Jane

Brianna is a beautiful name, but when you discover that there are four Briannas in your daughter's preschool class, you're tired of the nickname "Bri" and its variations, or you're looking for a nickname that's withstood the test of time, you might not know where to start.
  1. Ane
    • Anina
      • Origin:

        German, Aramaic
      • Meaning:

        "grace; let my prayer be answered"
      • Description:

        This pretty palindrome name is rarely heard in the US, but could make an interesting namesake for an aunt or grandma Ann. It's also a German diminutive form of Anna.
    • Anita
      • Origin:

        Spanish diminutive of Ana; Sanskrit
      • Meaning:

        "grace; unguided"
      • Description:

        Once a Top 100 name, this Spanish diminutive of Ana still retains some of her Latin flair. A notable namesake is noted attorney Anita Hill, another is the great jazz singer Anita O'Day. Plus there's Disney cred via the lead human character in 101 Dalmatians.
    • Annia
      • Origin:

        Latin, female variation of Antonius
      • Meaning:

        "priceless one"
      • Description:

        An ancient Roman name that has never made it into the modern world.
    • Ara
      • Origin:

        Armenian
      • Meaning:

        "king"
      • Description:

        Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
    • Ari
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Ariel, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "lion of God"
      • Description:

        In 2010, baby boys named Ari outnumbered baby girls 4 to 1; today, there are nearly equal numbers of boys and girls named Ari. And that's only counting the babies who receive Ari as a full name. Ari can also be short for not only Ariel but Aria, Arya, Ariana, and any other name starting with Ari. Ari entered the US Top 1000 for girls in 2016.
    • Ayn
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "grace"
      • Description:

        Ayn is a nonconformist name associated with controversial Russian-born writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, (born Alisa) author of The Fountainhead, who adopted it when she moved to the US in 1926.
    • Bara
      • Origin:

        Hebrew, Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "to select; rose"
      • Description:

        Gently appealing, a floral choice in Japanese.
    • Barrie
      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Barry
      • Meaning:

        "spear"
      • Description:

        The kind of cutesy female spin not popular since Barry was big for boys, several decades ago. Consider Bara instead.
    • Bay
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "berry"
      • Description:

        One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position.
    • Bea
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Beatrice
      • Meaning:

        "she who brings happiness"
      • Description:

        Bea is a former old lady name that's cute again as a short form -- and is now beginning to stand on its own. Bee is a variation that, like Bea, can work as a diminutive for any name that starts with the letter B, or in the middle. Bea actually stood alone on the popularity lists for four years at the beginning of the twentieth century--and it could happen again.
    • Beanie
      • Origin:

        Invented nickname
      • Description:

        Up-and-coming actress Beanie Feldstein is attracting attention toward her unusual — but rather cute — nickname. She was born Elizabeth Greer Feldstein but nicknamed "Elizabeanie" by her childhood nanny. It was later simplified to Beanie by her older brothers.
    • Bell
      • Origin:

        English and Scottish occupational name
      • Meaning:

        "ringer of the bell"
      • Description:

        These days, it's more likely you'd call your daughter the popular Belle or Bella.
    • Bennie
      • Beryl
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "sea-green jewel"
        • Description:

          Dated British favorite that never caught on in this country, where Jade remains the green gem of choice. Interesting namesakes: British writer Beryl Bainbridge and British aviatrix Beryl Markham.
      • Betty
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Elizabeth
        • Meaning:

          "pledged to God"
        • Description:

          Combine the popularity of Betty White and Mad Men's glamorous Betty Draper Francis, with the residual sweetness of Ugly Betty's Betty Suarez, and the result is an impending return of the name. It's got presidential cred via Betty Ford and feminist history through Betty Friedan.
      • Binnie
        • Origin:

          Celtic
        • Meaning:

          "crib, wicker basket"
        • Description:

          Like Minnie and Winnie, eccentric enough to appeal to the iconoclastic parent.
      • Birdie
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "bird"
        • Description:

          Birdie was until recently a middle-aged Ladies' Club member wearing a bird-decorated hat --but now it's just the kind of vintage nickname (think Hattie, Josie, Mamie, Millie) that's coming back into style in a big way. Actress Busy Philipps named her baby Birdie (inspired by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson), as did soap star Maura West.
      • Bitsy
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "pledged to God"
        • Description:

          The archetypal diminutive, in every sense of the word. Bitsy enjoyed some use as a nickname in the era when children were named after family members and then called by a cute pet name: Chip, Skip, Babe, Bitsy. As a full name, it has made the US list only three times: in 1943, 1958 and 1962.
      • Blue
        • Origin:

          Color name
        • Description:

          Blue suddenly came into the spotlight, as the unusual color name chosen by Beyonce and Jay-Z for their baby girl Blue Ivy. Blue is also a starbaby middle name du jour, used for both sexes in different spellings and forms, from John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Ella Bleu to Alicia Silverstone's Bear Blu. Dave 'The Edge' Evans named his daughter Blue Angel back in 1989.