Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
Nickname Names
Across 44 pages
of 44
Barb
English diminutive of Barbara, Greek
"foreign woman"
Barb is a midcentury nickname name that, like Deb and Sue, feels terminally dates now. But with the revival of Barbie, Barb may not be far behind.
Hy
Diminutive of Hyman, Hebrew
"life"
Hy was once a nickname for Hyman, a Jewish Anglicization of Chaim. Today it has gone extinct, for obvious reasons.
Ibby
English
"pledged to God"
An English diminutive of Isabel or Elizabeth that works best with a longer form on the birth certificate.
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 .
Iggy
Latin, diminutive of Ignatius
"fiery"
Iggy is the quintessential pop star name, though it's the nickname Cate Blanchett uses for son Ignatius. Iggy does bring any grander-sounding name down to earth.
Ike
Diminutive of Isaac, Hebrew
"laughter"
Ike, once the quirky one-person nickname of President Dwight Eisenhower, has morphed into a cool kid nickname of the early 21st century. The rise of Isaac and the stylishness of short down-to-earth…
Immy
Celtic
"maiden"
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…
Wylie
English surname, Scottish diminutive of William
"from Wylye, from the willow clearing; resolute protection"
Similar in sound to choices like Riley, Miley, and Kylie, Wylie has been sporadically featuring in the US stats for girls since the 1920s, though it has been more consistently used since the late…
Indy
The heroic movie figure Indiana Jones was often called Indy, as in the equally testosterone-laden Indy 500 car race. It could also be short for Indigo or Indio, or just use it as is.
Irv
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…
Izzy
Diminutive of Isabel and Isabella
The longer Isabella stays in the Top 10—and it's been there for more than a decade—the more we hear the nickname Izzy (especially if we watch Grey's Anatomy ). it's just a matter of time before it…
Izzy
Nickname
Multipurpose pet name serving Isidore, Isaac, Israel, and -- increasingly -- Isabel.
Ed
Diminutive of Edward et al
"wealthy"
The most minimalist of names, Ed is decidedly out -- though that usually means it's due to swing back in. More stylish these days: Ned or even Ted.
Jackie
English
"supplanter"
Jackie Kennedy gave this name a lot of style, but it doesn't seem destined for a comeback the way brother name Jack has. Jackie and Jacqueline both peaked in 1961.
Jackie
English
"God is gracious"
A cute diminutive of Jack, already technically a nickname for John, famously borne by Hong Kong actor, director and martial artist Jackie Chan.
Eben
Hebrew, diminutive of Ebenezer
"stone of help"
Though most parents would shy away from Ebenezer, short form Eben is affable and creative and perfectly able to stand alone; nothing Scroogish about it. This also makes a fresh new spin on the very…
Baby
English word name, diminutive of Barbara, Latin
"foreign woman"
Baby is rarely seen as a given name — or even nickname — these days, although it did rank in the Top 1000 from 1989 to 2003. These instances can be accounted for in two ways. Firstly, infants whose…
Jan
Feminine variation of John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
Jan, not short for Janet or Janice but standing on its own, ranked in the Top 200 throughout the 1950s but dropped off the Top 1000 in the 1980s and now is a truly extinct name, given to fewer than…
Jancey
English surname, Scottish variation of Janet
"God is gracious"
Jaunty Jancey hails from the United Kingdom, where it appeared in England as a surname and in Scotland as a nickname for Janet. It's extremely uncommon in the US, given to fewer than five baby girls…
Early
Diminutive of Earl, English, or word name
"nobleman, warrior; early"
Early is a word-turned-name, pleasantly suggesting the start of a bright new day. Of the new word and day names, Early is one of the best. Early James is the stage name of singer-songwriter Fredrick…