Nickname Names

Lula

Diminutive of any Lu name

Lula is one of the livelier nickname-names with the fashionable double-L sound: It joins Lulu, Lila, Lily, and Lou among the trendiest names today. Lula might be short for Talula and sisters or for…

Lulie

Short form of Lula or Louise, German and French

"renowned warrior"

One of the few Lu- names that you've probably never heard of, Lulie could prove a good alternative for Luna, Lucy, and Lula.

Lulu

Diminutive of Louise or Lucy, or Arabic

"pearl"

Lula has a firecracker personality, a singing and dancing extrovert. Interesting that Lulu was a Top 100 name when the Social Security list was born in 1880, but it's been sliding ever since and has…

Lupe

Spanish diminutive of Guadalupe, Latin

"wolf"

Derived from a Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Guadalupe, Lupe has both a spiritual and animal meaning. In relation to its long form, it is associated with a convent in Spain and the appearance of…

Mab

Irish, English

"intoxicating"

An Anglicized form of Medb borrowed by both Shakespeare and Percy Bysshe Shelley for the of queen of the fairies. Perfect if you want something both adventurous and simple - though you could use it…

Madge

Diminutive of Margery or Margaret

"pearl"

A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband…

Mag

Mandaic

In Mandaeism, Hag and Mag are a pair of demons typically mentioned together; Hag being male, and Mag being female.

Malky

Diminutive of Malka, Hebrew

"queen"

Cute, old-world nickname virtually unknown outside of the Jewish community.

Malou

Combination of Mary and Lou

"bitter; renowned warrior"

This charming name, popular in France and the Netherlands, has not traveled to the U.S. yet but would make a modern way to honor grandma Mary or Louise, or as a perfect short form of Mary Louise. Or,…

Mame

Diminutive of Mary or Margaret

Has a dotty, antic feel via dotty, antic Auntie Mame.

Mamie

Diminutive of Mary or Margaret, Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek

"drop of the sea or bitter or pearl"

Mamie is back. Having finally shorn her Mamie Eisenhower bangs, this insouciant and adorable nickname name is perfect if you want a zestier way to honor a beloved aunt Mary. Meryl Streep's actress…

Mandy

Diminutive of Amanda, Latin

"she must be loved"

A seventies favorite, Mandy once appeared in the US Top 100, joined by the likes of Brandi, Kristy, Nancy, Lori, and Misty. By the mid-2000s, it had fallen out of favor, and while long form Amanda…

Mar

Latin

"sea"

The Spanish and Portuguese word for "sea" is a Top 100 name in Spain. In America, it's sometimes used as a nickname for names like Martina and Marina, but it could also plausibly stand on its own.

Marcy

Diminutive of Marcia

"Mars, god of war"

Marcy is about as hip as bobby sox and saddle shoes – which is to say, it's probably due a revival in the not-too-distant future! It was a typical Peanuts character name, which peaked in the…

Marge

Short form of Margaret, Greek

"pearl"

Marge used to be as common as Maggie or Megan, ranking on its own in the girls' Top 1000 from 1900 until right after World War II, when so many Old School names fell off the list in favor of a new…

Margie

Diminutive of Margery

Prime pert-teenager name in midcentury TV shows, replaced by Maggie.

Mari

Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved; gift, mother; truth, genuine, villlage"

Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also…