Sugary Sweet Names for Girls

Zuzu

Czech diminutive of Susan

"lily"

This sizzling nickname Zuzu is heard every Christmas as the name of Jimmy Stewart's little girl in "It's a Wonderful Life," but we love it all year round as a lively alternative to double names like…

Flower

English

"flower"

Florence, Flora, and a whole plethora of botanical names are in style at the moment, but simple Flower remains rare. Perhaps it's the association with the little skunk in Bambi, or because it rhymes…

Ibbie

Short form of Elizabeth, Isabella, or Abigail, Hebrew

"pledged to God; my father is joyful"

Playful, zippy nicknames like Indie, Joni, Scottie, and Stevie are on the rise, and this quirky alternative to Izzy and Libby joined their ranks in 2024 when it was given to 58 girls, compared to…

Merry

English

"lighthearted, happy"

She'd better be. Merry is one of the classic names for Christmas babies .

Suvi

Finnish

"summer"

Light, zippy, and sunny, Suvi has a sparky yet sweet feel. Notably borne by Finnish supermodel Suvi Koponen, it is taken from the Finnish word for Summer, making it and interesting alternative to…

Dulcie

Latin, diminutive of Dulcibella

"sweet"

A sweet-meaning and sounding name dating back to the Roman Empire, and later found in the antebellum South, Dulcie has in the modern era been heard most often in Australia. In Agatha Christie's…

Tessie

English, diminutive of Theresa, Greek

"to reap, gather"

With Tillie a new favorite of avant-garde parents, the British music-hall Tessie might conceivably follow.

Bijou

French

"jewel"

Bijou is a name that lives up to its definition -- a real jewel. Warning: not unheard of on poodles' dog collars. Actress Bijou Phillips is its best known bearer. It can also be spelled Bijoux.

Lissy

Diminutive of Elizabeth, Felicity, and Melissa

Lissy may be this generation's answer to Missy. It's rare to see Lissy on a birth certificate, but if you pay attention, you may notice it as a nickname for names such as the classic Elizabeth or hot…

Pixie

Swedish or Cornish

"fairy"

Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally…

Plum

Fruit name

British-born novelist Plum Sykes has taken this rich, fruity name out of the produce section and put it into the baby name basket. It's more appealing than Apple, more presentable than Peaches. The…

Posy

English

"a bunch of flowers"

A sweet, nostalgic nosegay kind of name, Posy has been long fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is still rarely heard in the US, though it could be…

Archie

Diminutive of Archibald, Teutonic

"truly brave"

Cosy but cool, Archie has been a favorite nickname for boys in the UK since the 2000s. More recently, it re-entered the US Top 1000 after a 30 year absence and saw a big rise after Prince Harry and…

Idgie

Diminutive of Imogen or Imogene, Celtic

"maiden"

This cutesy nickname is best known as that of Imogene Threadgoode in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes .

Nessie

Nessie is a feminine name with Scottish origins, most famously associated with the legendary Loch Ness Monster of Scottish folklore. It originated as an affectionate diminutive of Agnes (meaning…

Whimsy

English word name

"whimsical or fanciful"

Whimsy is a new entry to the ever-expanding word name lexicon, sister for Pixie and Bliss. While it has an undeniable offbeat English aristocratic charm (maybe we're thinking of Dorothy Sayers'…

Adorabella

English

"adorable and beautiful"

A mix of Adora and Bella, Adorabella is a totally sweet name, but perhaps so sweet, it would work better for a pet. You could also consider the more versatile options of Adora, Bella, or Arabella,…

Bebe

English diminutive of Beatrice or any other B name

High-kicking cohort of Coco, Gigi, Fifi, Kiki, et al.

Bitsy

Diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew

"pledged to God"

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,…

Boo

Word name or nickname

Boo may have started out as a nickname for the male character Arthur "Boo" Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird and these days may be closely associated with another male Boo, the "world's cutest dog" or…