By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 18 pages
of 18
Italian nickname
"polite, kind"
Patricia Arquette and Nicole Richie named their daughters Harlow, so why not consider this other great early screen icon?
Diminuitve of Carol or Caroline, English, French ,"free man"
"free man"
Upper-crusty nickname occasionally used in Britain, particularly in 1930s novels featuring significant garden party scenes, but eclipsed here by Carrie et al.
Diminutive of Piritta, Finnish
"strength; exalted one"
Cute and quirky nickname that stands on its own in Finland.
Diminutive of Florence, Latin
"flourishing, prosperous"
Flo is an antiquated nickname not often used these days, possibly because "Aunt Flo" is a euphemism for a period.
Feo is an unusual feminine name with multiple possible origins. In Spanish, 'feo' literally means 'ugly,' making it an unconventional choice, though it may function as a shortened form of names like…
Carlyjo is a feminine name that represents a modern compound creation, combining elements of traditional names Carly and Jo. Carly itself is typically a diminutive of Caroline (meaning 'free woman')…
Latin or Tswana
"new or gift"
Neo, indeed--though it was a male character in "The Matrix." In the Southern African language of Tswana, it is a unisex name meaning "gift".
Ecko is an uncommon feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the German word 'ecke' meaning 'corner' or could be a creative spelling of 'echo,' referring to the reflection…
Cammeo is a feminine name inspired by the English word "cameo," referring to the carved gemstone art form featuring a raised relief design. The name evokes the delicate beauty and artistry associated…
Cutesy short form of Piritta, the Finnish variation of Birgitta.
Amio is a rare feminine name with multicultural resonances. It may derive from Italian, where it could be related to 'amico' meaning 'friend,' or it might have Japanese origins where it could mean…
Italian
"brisk, sprightly"
ALLEGRA is a delicate ballet-dancer name; ALLEGRO, which means a fast-paced movement in music, is stronger and more vibrant.
Mikki (and Mickie and Micki) are outmoded nickname names or short forms of Michelle: Today's version is Mikko.
Mikiyo is a feminine Japanese name with several possible meanings depending on the kanji characters used to write it. Common interpretations include "beautiful child of the tree" or "beautiful…
Italian place-name
Milan is one of the hottest place names in recent years for both girls and boys — why not the Italian name for the beautiful city, Milano. Also a delicious brand of cookies.
Kameo is a feminine name with varied potential origins. It may be related to the word 'cameo,' referring to the carved gemstone art form where figures stand out in relief against a contrasting…
Spelling variation of Monroe
Possibly to honor Canadian short story writer Alice -- though Alice is more far accessible and--until very recently-- nearly as distinctive.
African Nigerian
"she is our joy"
A bit masculine in feel.
Maori
"reflections on the water"
New Zealand writer Ngaio (born Edith Ngaio) Marsh is the best-known bearer of this Maori nature name, properly pronounced ng (like the end of sing) -EYE-oh. It is the name of a tree indigenous to New…
English diminutive of Dorothy, Greek
"gift of God"
Dodo is one of the few names of the cute repeating-sounds genre that is not alas so cute, being a slang word for someone brainless as well as the name of the infamous extinct bird. Dot, Dottie, Dory,…
