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Nickname Names

  1. Ellie

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Eleanor and Ellen

    • Meaning:

      "bright shining one"

    • Description:

      Ellie first took off in the UK—yes, in this nickname form—and this warm and friendly name has also become hugely popular here. In 2011, Ellie entered the US Top 100 girl names for the first time and has remained near the top of the charts ever since.
  2. Lola

    • Origin:

      Spanish, diminutive of Dolores

    • Meaning:

      "lady of sorrows"

    • Description:

      A hot starbaby name – chosen by Kelly Ripa, Chris Rock, Lisa Bonet, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, Carnie Wilson, and Annie Lennox, and used as the nickname of Madonna's Lourdes – Lola manages to feel fun and sassy without going over the top. Be warned, though: "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets," to quote a song from the show Damn Yankees.
  3. Kit

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Katherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Kit is a crisp, old-time nickname with plenty of spirit and style. In the UK it's a rising star for boys, while in the US, it is trending upwards for girls too.
  4. Hallie

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the meadow by the manor"

    • Description:

      Hallie -- it rhymes with alley and is not to be confused with Halle or Hailey or Holly -- is one of those comfy nicknamish names that are in favor in these complicated times.
  5. Ren

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "water lily, lotus, romantic love, move forward; reborn"

    • Description:

      A very popular unisex name in Japan, Ren is a concise and versatile choice that could work across multiple languages. A rising star in England and Wales where it ranks in the Top 1000, it is also on the rise in the US where it was give to nearly 90 girls and 200 boys in a recent year.
  6. Mila

    • Origin:

      Slavic, Russian

    • Meaning:

      "gracious; dear"

    • Description:

      Mila is a popular name that took a 125 year nap, ranking in the Top 1000 in 1881 and then not ranking again until 2006, after actress Mila Kunis appeared on That 70s Show.
  7. Scottie

    • Origin:

      English nickname

    • Meaning:

      "Scot"

    • Description:

      With its sassy, old school vibes, its cheerful, snappy sounds, and its fresh, unisex image, Scottie was one of the fastest rising names for girls in the US in 2023, and then again in 2024.
  8. Archie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Archibald, Teutonic

    • Meaning:

      "truly brave"

    • Description:

      Archie made global news as the surprise first name of the newborn royal baby, son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aka Harry and Meghan. Archie has now officially transcended Archie Bunker and Riverdale's Archie to take the, um, throne as the quintessential retro nickname name.
  9. Mina

    • Origin:

      Hindu equivalent of Pisces or diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"

    • Description:

      Most famous as a Dracula victim (where Mina is short for Wilhelmina), Mina is a name that can stand on its own or be a diminutive of any name ending in -mina, most usually Wilhelmina.
  10. Alfie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alfred, English

    • Meaning:

      "wise counselor"

    • Description:

      Alfie is a Top 20 name throughout the British Isles, where retro nickname names are mega-popular, but it hasn't really been picked up in the US yet. Both Alfie and rising star Archie are spunky nickname possibilities with a bit of an English accent.
  11. Gus

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, August

    • Description:

      Gus is a homey grandpa nickname name that can work as a short form for any of the above or stand on its own as a cutting-edge replacement for Max and Jake--though it was off the Top 1000 from 1978 until 2016, when it squeaked in at Number 999.
  12. Cleo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "glory"

    • Description:

      Cleo, one of the few girls' names to boast the cool-yet-lively o ending, is of course short for Cleopatra, the name of one of the most powerful women in history.
  13. Anya

    • Origin:

      Russian diminutive of Anna

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Anya is a Russian variation of Anna, which came from the Hebrew name Hannah. Anya is the form found most frequently in Russia, Poland, and other East European countries, while Anja is the spelling usually preferred in Germany Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands. In the Hungarian language, Anya also means mother.
  14. Rafe

    • Origin:

      Variation of Ralph, English

    • Meaning:

      "wolf-counsel"

    • Description:

      A top ranking choice in England and Wales, making frequent appearances on the Telegraph Announcments, Rafe feels equal parts rugged, amiable, and posh. Traditionally seen used a variant of Ralph (itself from the Old Norse Ráðúlfr), it came into use in the 17th century to reflect this particular pronunciation.
  15. Nancy

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Ann or Agnes, Hebrew or Greek

    • Meaning:

      "grace or pure"

    • Description:

      To some, Nancy is a sweet, sparkly, vintage choice with plenty of energy and style. For it strays too much into '"old-lady" territory to be cool again yet. It's out of fashion in France, New Zealand, and Canada; it lingers towards to bottom of the US charts. In the UK however, Nancy has been a Top 100 name for nearly a decade where it fits right in with Evie, Mabel, and Pippa.
  16. Jules

    • Origin:

      French form of Latin Julius

    • Meaning:

      "youthful; soft, downy"

    • Description:

      Though Jules hasn't been on the US popularity list in fifty years, it is a current hit in its native France—where it's currently in the Top 10—and we can definitely see it making a comeback here, being far more romantic than, say, Jim.
  17. Stu

    • Description:

      Stu is a masculine name primarily used as a diminutive of Stuart, Stewart, or Stanley. Stuart and Stewart originated as Scottish surnames derived from the Old English 'stig-weard,' meaning 'household guardian.' As a standalone name, Stu gained some usage in the mid-20th century during a trend toward friendly, approachable shortened names. It projects a casual, unpretentious quality with a distinctly mid-century feel. While never ranking highly as a formal given name, Stu maintains recognition through cultural references like the character Stu Pickles from the animated series 'Rugrats' and various sports personalities. Today, it's more commonly used as a nickname rather than a legal given name.

  18. Callie

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Caroline, English, or Calliope, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "free man; beautiful voice"

    • Description:

      Sweet and sunny but substantial too, Callie is a nickname-style choice that has long been used as a stand-alone option . Traditionally a diminutive of classic Caroline, it may also be used for Calliope, Camila, Callista, Calanthe, and beyond.
  19. Tommy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Thomas

    • Meaning:

      "twin"

    • Description:

      A surprising number of parents choose to put the nickname Tommy on their son's birth certificate rather than the more traditional Thomas. Perhaps even more surprising is thE fact that Tommy has never been off the United States popularity charts. More recently, however, the name has been trending downward.
  20. Monty

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Montague or Montgomery, variation of Monte, English, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "mountain"

    • Description:

      Monty, a name with a World War II feel, is rarely used on its own in the US. But we're hearing rumblings of a comeback and think that Monty, whatever it's short for, is an adorable vintage nickname name of the future. It's already a hit in the UK.

The Nameberry App Is Live

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Find your perfect baby name together in our iPhone app, now available on the App Store.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
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  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
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