Vintage Nicknames for Girls

Cleda is a simple but rare name that may be related to Cleta, the name of one of the Charities or Graces.

Cleda

Clemmie

Debbie is decidedly out, the original Deborah lovely, and other short forms -- Deb, Debs -- for occasional use only.

Debs

Doe is a soft and gentle-eyed middle name possibility and, like Fawn, one of the few animal names open to girls. 
 The Ballad of Baby Doe is a modern American opera based on the story of Elizabeth McCourt Tabor, known as Baby Doe. 
 So yes, use the sweet Doe as a middle name for your daughter--just not if her first name will be Jane.

Some parents might like this energetic diminutive for Dorothy used in the Bush family, though the traditional Dottie and Dot seem to be coming back.

Doro

Dosia is rare but not foreign, especially since the antiquated name Theodosia was highlighted in the play Hamilton.

Dosia

A sweet Bobbsey-twin era nickname, fluffy and floral.

Florrie

Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Appealing, sweet as candy floss, though perhaps a too cutesy for some, Flossie was chosen for nine girls in England and Wales in a recent year.
 
Flossie was one of the younger twins in the iconic children's book series The Bobbsey Twins, first published in 1904.

Flossie

All but unheard of today, Floy was a popular Florence nickname used on its own in a century ago: it was Number 448 in 1914. Charles Dickens uses Floy as a pet name for the character Florence Dombey in his novel Dombey and Son. It has a jaunty edge to it, that could make it appeal to those who enjoy less frilly girl names.

Floy

This geographic name has lots of Gallic elan. France Nuyen is a French-Vietnamese actress who starred in the Broadway hit The World of Suzie Wong.

France

Like Mitzi, the bubbly Fritzi shows signs of rising again. Has a bit of a comic-strip feel.

Fritzi

These days Sophie would be the most likely nickname for Sophronia, but back in Colonial times, Fronie was a common diminutive.

Fronie

Gussie fits the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside Charlie and Frankie. But Gussie is a bit fussy — try Gus.

Gussie

A classic short form of Henrietta, also seen as a nickname for Mehetabel.

Hetty

An old-school nickname for a rare biblical gem. Hetty is a more favorable option.

Hitty

An English diminutive of Isabel or Elizabeth that works best with a longer form on the birth certificate.

Ibby

Diminutive of Imogen, rarely given as a standalone even in the UK, where Imogen is a Top 50 pick. 2023 however saw a slight spike in usage, when Immy was chosen for twelve girls — more than double the number ever given the name in a single year before — while Immie was also chosen for nine girls. 

Immy

This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related names, Kitty is sounding cute and cuddly again&mdash;she's already jumped back onto the U.K. list, at number 199.
 Kitty was one of the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice and was a character in Dickens's Bleak House; Ginger Rogers won an Oscar for her performance in Kitty Foyle, and vintage TV fans might remember the alluring Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke. Since then there have been pop culture Kittys galore, including Calista Flockhart's character on Brothers and Sisters, a mom on That 70's Show and Kitty Pryde, one of the X-Men.
 Singer Kitty Carlisle was born Catherine, country singer Kitty Wells grew up as Muriel, and Presidential candidate's wife Kitty Dukakis was born Katharine.
 A historical reference is Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers performed their aeronautical experiments. 
 Short form Kit has been used in recent years for several strong-willed movie heroines and may prove a lively alternative to Kate.

Kitty

Kizzy remains the most popular spelling of the Keziah short form, at least in some part thanks to its appearance in the 1977 television show Roots.

Kizzie

 feel new again. Many modern parents are choosing to forgo traditional full forms and put an old-fashioned nickname on the birth certificate instead. Elsie, Winnie, and Millie outrank their more formal counterparts, Elsa, Winifred, and Mildred.

 vintage nicknames for girls in the US Top 1000

 include Maisie, Nellie, Josie, Emmy, Belle, Evie, Hattie, and Rosie.

You may not have heard of vintage nicknames such as Floy, Ibby, Sudie, and Winnet, which are all but forgotten, though could stand to be revived.

These vintage nicknames for girls might be worth a fresh look.

Vintage and retro nicknames, diminutives, and short form names for baby girls, old fashioned, old lady names with meanings, origin, and popularity (Page 6)