Attitude Nicknames for Girls

This name of the first recorded dynasty of ancient China is short and simple enough to make a possible Asian-American alternative to Mia and Tia. British-Filipino child star Xia Vigor has invigorated the name in the Philippines.

Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy. You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an all-purpose nickname now buried in a mid-century time capsule.

Helly is not a nickname you hear every day, but Helly (short for Helena) Riggs is a character on TV's Severance. Both Helen and Helena are starting to trend upwards, which may make Helly more familiar.

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

We've seen Beatrice and Beatrix climb in popularity, along with traditional nickname Bea. And now there's Bee, giving it a buzzy nature world spin, plus a tie to popular late night TV''s Samantha Bee, not to mention Aunt Bee on the old The Andy Griffith Show TV show. Bee can theoretically be short for any girl names starting with B.

Actress Tilda Swinton injected this dated nickname name with some modern charm.

Taisie is a feminine name of Scottish Gaelic origin, typically considered a diminutive form of names like Anastasia or potentially derived from Tess or Stacy. In Gaelic contexts, it might be related to 'tais,' meaning 'soft' or 'gentle.'

Rarely given as a full name for baby girls, but occasionally used as a nickname for names such as Harriet and Henrietta.

In Nabokov's notorious novel, Lolita is the pet name given by the pedophilic narrator, Humbert Humbert, to his victim: a young girl called Dolores and nicknamed Lola or Lo by her mother. Still, it seems that a few parents are prepared to look past this problematic association, seeing this as a offbeat option for those who defy convention. We would recommend thinking seriously about the background of this name before bestowing it on your daughter.

Roux, a color name meaning russet or reddish brown, is a possible middle name for your little auburn-haired babe, though a post-Hunger Games child would more likely be called Rue. Roux is also a culinary term for a mixture of fat and flour used in French cooking to make sauces.

We're hearing Kat more and more being used by Katherines who are tired of Kathy, Kate and Katie. Katti or Kattie is another possibility.

Fun, friendly and fresher than Jo or Josie as a nickname for Joanna or Josephine. Joey can be thought of as one of the Stevie/Billie/Frankie boyish nicknames for girls so fashionable today.

Freddie, especially with the ie ending, is one of the old-school boy-names-for-girls that came into vogue at the turn of the last century. Freddie, all on its own, ranked among the Top 1000 girl names until 1958, but in 2021 it was given to just 8 baby girls. Maybe that makes it prime for a comeback, ala Billie?

Before Beatrice there was Beatrix, which leads naturally to the short form Trix. Trixie is a wise-cracking gum-snapping waitress but Trix is sleek and mischievous -- tricks, get it?

Now that Theodora (and Dorothea) are back, the adorable Teddi might work again for a baby girl. Teddi fits the rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside picks like Leni and Charlie.

As a name, Prim is generally short for Primrose – as in the sweet younger sister of heroine Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. But a word of warning: it also coincides with the English word "prim", meaning "disapproving, overly correct".

The most enduringly popular hero of Irish myth was Finn McCool, whose name is one of the coolest ever. When used for the female protagonist of How to Make an American Quilt, Finn established its hipness for girls as well.

So uncool it's cool! Bertie makes for a boyish nickname for Alberta, Roberta, Bertille, Albertine... or just use it on its own, à la Billie or Frankie. Old school unisex nickname names are back in and Bertie has an undeniable vintage charm; particularly given soundalike Birdie rising in the ranks.

Sisi is a feminine name with multicultural origins and connections. It often serves as a diminutive or nickname form of names like Cecilia, Cecile, or Francesca. The name gained historical recognition through Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who was affectionately known as Sisi. In Chinese, Sisi (思思) can mean "thinking" or "reflection," while in various African languages it has different meanings, including "secret" in Swahili. The name's repetitive syllable structure gives it a playful, melodic quality that feels both youthful and warm. Though not commonly used as a formal given name in Western countries, Sisi has maintained popularity as a nickname and has seen some usage as a standalone name in multicultural contexts, particularly in Chinese and African communities.