Names That Mean Short
Across 5 pages
of 5
Sheba
Hebrew, short variation of Bathsheba
"daughter of an oath"
This biblical place-name for the region now known as Yemen started to feel fresh again as the name of the heroine of Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal , played on screen by Cate Blanchett. Sheba is…
Mika
Finnish short form of Mikael
"who is like God"
This short form of Mikael, a variation of Michael, may originate in Finland but it's most popular in Germany and The Netherlands. Mika can make a cute and original way to honor a Michael in the…
Meeri
Estonian short form of Margaret or Mary
Meeri is kind of like Siri with an M. This unusual name is certainly cute and intriguing but would forever be mistaken for Mary.
Benthe
Dutch short form of Benedicta, Latin
"blessed"
Benthe is a popular Dutch abbreviation of the feminine for Benedict.
Avri
English or Hebrew, spelling variation of Avery or feminine short form of Avraham
The name recently given to their daughter by Susan and Robert Downey, Jr. is pronounced like Avery and may be seen as a kree8tiv spelling variation of that popular unisex name or a girlish short form…
Kamma
Danish short form of Kamilla or variation of Katherine
Kamma is an appealing Danish name signifying a combination of Katherine or Karen and Maria or Margaret. It may also be a short form of Kamilla, the usual Scandinavian spelling of Camilla.
Vignette
English from French
"short and evocative description; little vine"
The french word vignette literally means "little vine," but in English it is a literary and art term. In literature, a vignette refers to a brief but vivid description, and in art, an illustration or…
Svante
Swedish, short form of Svantepolk, Slavic
"holy people"
A jaunty, traditional name in Sweden's Top 100. Famous bearers include actor Svante Thunberg (Greta's father) and the father of physical chemistry Svante August Arrhenius. The name Svante is short…
Rise
English, Norwegia, Danish, Japanese
"move upward, ascend; mighty, distinguished; lapis lazuli + celestial"
A multicultural choice with a range of meanings, this name boomed in the 1940s and 50s thanks to the glamorous singer Risë (pronounced REE-sa) Stevens, who inherited her name from her Norwegian…
Raz
Hebrew short form of Raziah
"the Lord's secret"
Raz, like many similar names, is used for both girls and boys in modern Israel. Simple, sleek, memorable.
Aoibh
Celtic, Short Form Of aoibheann
"beautiful, radiant"
One of many Irish names that, despite pronunciation challenge, are beginning to be taken into consideration here as authentic Celtic versions of familiar English names.
Posie
Variation of Posy or short form of Mariposa, English or Spanish
"a bunch of flowers or butterfly"
Posie and its near-identical twins Posy and Posey are delicate old-fashioned flower names of the type that are stylish today: Think Poppy, Marigold, Clover. Perhaps because it's the name of cosmetics…
Steena
Scandinavian short form of Christina
"annointed, Christian"
The Steen, Steena, and Stina nicknames for Christina are much more common in Scandinavia than in the English-speaking world, which prefers the Chris variations.
Tavi
Feminine short form of David or short form of Octavia
Tavi has been catapulted into the spotlight by teenage fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson. This cute name, previously not on anyone's scope, could be a way to honor an ancestral David or a short form of…