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Short Baby Names

  1. Flo

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Florence, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "flourishing, prosperous"

    • Description:

      Flo is an antiquated nickname not often used these days, possibly because "Aunt Flo" is a euphemism for a period.
  2. Dru

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Drusilla, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fruitful"

    • Description:

      Flimsier than Drew spelling.
  3. Mik

    • Origin:

      Dutch, from English

    • Meaning:

      "who is like God?"

    • Description:

      This Dutch spelling of Mick, a diminutive of the classic Michael, has seen small but steady use in the Netherlands. The streamlined Mik variant has a cool edge over the friendly original.
  4. Cam

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cameron or Camilla

    • Description:

      A Pam for the modern age, improved by a harder edge and a tad less prissiness.
  5. Anu

    • Origin:

      Finnish and Estonian diminutive of Anna, Sanskrit diminutive of Anuradha, Yoruba, Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "grace; causing success; mercy"

    • Description:

      A multicultural mini name with roots in three continents.
  6. Pam

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Pamela, English

    • Meaning:

      "all honey"

    • Description:

      This mild-mannered short form was Queen of the Prom in the fifties and sixties, but today is mostly heard on TV's The Office (and of course as one of the founders of Nameberry).
  7. Oma

    • Description:

      Oma is a feminine name with Germanic origins, literally meaning 'grandmother' in German and Dutch. The name carries warm associations of maternal wisdom and familial nurturing. While primarily known as a term of endearment for grandmothers in German-speaking countries, Oma has occasionally been used as a given name in the United States, particularly in communities with German heritage. The name peaked in limited popularity in the early 1900s but has since become quite rare as a first name. Oma also appears in Japanese, meaning 'horse,' and in some African languages with various meanings. The name's brevity and soft sounds give it a gentle quality, though its strong association with grandmotherhood in German culture may influence how the name is perceived.

  8. Min

    • Origin:

      Chinese

    • Meaning:

      "quick"

    • Description:

      Puts the -min in diminutive.
  9. Irv

    • Description:

      Irv is a masculine name primarily used as a diminutive of Irving, which has Old English origins meaning 'green water' or 'sea friend.' This short, punchy name gained modest popularity in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in Jewish-American communities where Irving was more common. Irv carries a vintage, mid-century charm that evokes the era of its peak usage. While rarely used as a formal given name today, it maintains recognition as a nickname. The brevity of Irv gives it a straightforward, unpretentious quality that contrasts with longer, more elaborate naming trends. It represents a connection to earlier generations while offering simplicity.
  10. Jad

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "serious"

    • Description:

      Simple and serious Arabic name which debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016.
  11. Di

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Diana, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "divine"

    • Description:

      Fans of the late Princess Diana might remember an early nickname, Shy Di. Di was more commonly heard in the middle of the last century, when Diane and sisters were in top vogue.
  12. Fons

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "noble, ready"

    • Description:

      A short form of Alfons that feels more modern and approachable than the original, Fons is a Dutch named used most commonly in Belgium, where it has made the Top 200 for the last 5 consecutive years.
  13. Ayo

    • Origin:

      Yoruba, Nigerian

    • Meaning:

      "joy"

    • Description:

      This charming West African mini name fits in with the other similarly short names that are all the rage right now. Ayo is enjoying new visibility thanks to actress Ayo Edebiri, star of TV's The Bear.
  14. Fee

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Fiona

    • Description:

      Too fiscal.
  15. Vic

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Victor, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "conqueror"

    • Description:

      This short form of classic Victor is popular in its own right in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  16. Lib

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elizabeth or Liberty

    • Meaning:

      "pledged to god; freedom"

    • Description:

      A concise and zippy short form of Elizabeth, Liberty or similar, used for the main character in the novel and film adaptation of Emma Donoghue's The Wonder about a nurse sent to observe a girl who is miraculously surviving without food, to check the validity of her parents' claim.
  17. Mel

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Melanie

    • Meaning:

      "black, dark"

    • Description:

      Not one but two Spice Girls are named Mel, which led to it briefly being more popular for girls than boys in the 90s and early 00s, but it has now fallen out of favor for both sexes.
  18. Ala

    • Origin:

      Igbo, Polish, diminutive of Alicja

    • Meaning:

      "nobility"

    • Description:

      Ala is the Igbo earth goddess whose symbol is the crescent moon. In a very different vein, Ala can be a diminutive for Alicja or Alexandra or really any other name with an A at both ends and an L in the middle. Ala is also an Arabic name meaning "excellence, supremacy"; could be confused as a homonym for Allah, or as part of a phrase like a la mode.