Nameberry's Favorite Nicknames
Updated Thu Jun 20 2024
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Nameberry's favorite nicknames are drawn from the set of names that rank inside the Nameberry Top 1000 but outside the US Top 1000.
These are sweet-spot nicknames: unique yet familiar choices that are stylish among the Berries, but not yet adopted by mainstream America.
Our top picks include plenty of vintage nicknames such as Dolly and Suki for girls, Hal and Ike for boys, along with modern nicknames like Novie and Beck.
Our favorite nicknames listed here are ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
Nicknames: The Ultimate Guide
- Kit
Origin:
English, diminutive of ChristopherMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"Description:
Actor Kit Harington, aka the dreamy Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, has given this nickname-name new style and appeal for boys. Actress Jodie Foster used it for her son back in the 2000s, while actor Kit Connor of Heartstopper fame may have introduced it to a wider audience.
- Romy
Origin:
Diminutive of Rosemary, Roma, Romana, Romilly etc.Description:
Austrian actress Romy Schneider seemed to be the singular bearer of this international nickname name until it found new style currency in the past decade, entering the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024.
- Ziggy
Origin:
German, diminutive of Siegfried and SigmundMeaning:
"victorious peace; victorious protection; victory"Description:
Perhaps the ultimate nicknamey name, Ziggy manages to sound cool, cutesy, spiky, and energetic all at once. It brings to mind the glam-rock of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the cool vibes of reggae musician Ziggy Marley, along with the contemporary-but-vintage appeal of Teddy, Mack, and Albie.
- Percy
Origin:
French surname from place name Perci-en-AugeDescription:
Percy is an adorable old name that is finally shedding its pampered Little Lord Fauntleroy image in this new era of boys with soft yet traditionally male names like Jasper and Elijah. Originating as an aristocratic Norman name, Percy became fairly widespread in England--and to some extent in the US--as an offshoot of the fame of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
- Gus
Origin:
Diminutive of Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, AugustDescription:
Gus is a homey grandpa nickname name that can work as a short form for any of the above or stand on its own as a cutting-edge replacement for Max and Jake--though it was off the Top 1000 from 1978 until 2016, when it squeaked in at Number 999.
- Monty
Origin:
Diminutive of Montague or Montgomery, variation of Monte, English, SpanishMeaning:
"mountain"Description:
Monty, a name with a World War II feel, is rarely used on its own in the US. But we're hearing rumblings of a comeback and think that Monty, whatever it's short for, is an adorable vintage nickname name of the future. It's already a hit in the UK.
- Kit
Origin:
English diminutive of Katherine, GreekMeaning:
"pure"Description:
Kit is a crisp, old-time nickname with plenty of spirit and style. In the UK it's a rising star for boys, while in the US, it is trending upwards for girls too.
- Alfie
Origin:
Diminutive of Alfred, EnglishMeaning:
"wise counselor"Description:
Alfie is a Top 20 name throughout the British Isles, where retro nickname names are mega-popular, but it hasn't really been picked up in the US yet. Both Alfie and rising star Archie are spunky nickname possibilities with a bit of an English accent.
- Maude
Origin:
English and French diminutive of Matilda, GermanMeaning:
"battle-mighty"Description:
Maude, also spelled Maud, is a lacy, mauve-tinted name that was wildly popular a hundred years ago, but has been rarely heard in the past fifty. Some stylish parents are starting to choose it again, especially as a middle.
- Marnie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"of the sea"Description:
Retro short form of Marina, now dated to the era of the Hitchcock movie that made it famous. In the UK, it's one of the hottest vintage names of the moment, perhaps inspired by British singer Lily Allen, who gave it to her second daughter in 2013. It's also a character name on the hit TV show Girls.
- Pippa
Origin:
English, diminutive of PhilippaMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
Pippa, a peppy condensation of Philippa that turns it from serious to sprightly, has come into the public eye in a big way via the former Kate Middleton's sister.
- Sally
Origin:
Diminutive of SarahMeaning:
"princess"Description:
Sally is a cheerful, fresh-faced girl-next-door name that was originally a nickname for Sarah, but has long been used independently. Sally was popular in the eighteenth century and then again from the 1920s to the 1960s--it was just outside the Top 50 around 1940. Though it hasn't been heard as a baby name for decades, we can see Sally bouncing back, especially after her exposure as young Ms. Draper on Mad Men--the Nameberries rank it at Number 621, and it's a Top 100 name in Sweden.
- Bunty
Origin:
English and Scottish nicknameMeaning:
"lamb or plump"Description:
A bouncy English and Scottish nickname name, which originally started out as a term of endearment, either meaning "lamb" or (more probably) "plump". It has been in rare but regular use as a full name in Britain since at least the early 20th century, thanks in part to the popular comic play "Bunty Pulls The Strings" (1910). Bunty is also sometimes encountered as a pet name for Elizabeth or other unrelated names.
- Minnie
Origin:
Diminutive of Wilhelmina, GermanMeaning:
"resolute protection"Description:
Minnie was wildly popular at the turn of the last century — it was the fifth or sixth most popular name throughout the 1880s — but is completely obscure in the US today. Blame Mickey's girlfriend. Regardless, it's possible that the up and coming trend toward old-fashioned nickname-names — think Maisie, Mamie, Millie — may give Minnie (all on its own, not as a short form of anything) a new moment in the sun.
- Bram
Origin:
Dutch variation of Abraham, HebrewMeaning:
"father of multitudes"Description:
Bram has an unusual measure of character and charm for a one-syllable name; it started as a hipper-than-Abe diminutive of the biblical Abraham, but is also an independent Irish and Dutch name, made famous by Irish-born Dracula creator Bram (nee Abraham) Stoker. Bram is currently Number 16 in the Netherlands; Bram Howard was a character on The West Wing.
- Rafe
Origin:
Variation of Ralph, EnglishMeaning:
"wolf-counsel"Description:
A top ranking choice in England and Wales, making frequent appearances on the Telegraph Announcments, Rafe feels equal parts rugged, amiable, and posh. Traditionally seen used a variant of Ralph (itself from the Old Norse Ráðúlfr), it came into use in the 17th century to reflect this particular pronunciation.
- Teddy
Origin:
Diminutive of Theodore or EdwardMeaning:
"gift of God or wealthy guardian"Description:
Teddy is in some ways one of those midcentury boys' nicknames -- like Jimmy or Bobby or Billy -- yet because it was never that popular, it feels timeless too. The preferred short form of Theodore these days may be Theo and of Edward may be....Edward, but Teddy can work adorably for either and grows up to Ted. And of course, let's not forget the inevitable teddy bear.
- Effie
Origin:
English diminutive of Euphemia, GreekMeaning:
"pleasant speech"Description:
Effie is the old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty although is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
- Dolly
Origin:
English, diminutive of DorothyMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Sweet and cosy with a touch of sass, this nickname-y choice was a familiar option up until the sixties in the US. Then, for a while, it was a bit of a one-person name, associated with singer Dolly Parton, but more recently, it's been singing a fashionable note again along with sisters Dottie and Millie.
- Tilly
Origin:
Diminutive of MatildaMeaning:
"battle-mighty"Description:
A favorite in England and Wales where nicknames as given names are very much the norm, Tilly has the potential to catch on in the US, given its similarity to the popular Lily and Ellie and the rising stars Millie, Billie, Kallie, and Nellie.
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