Nickname Names

Cute, distinctive diminutive for this regal-sounding name.

With Tillie a new favorite of avant-garde parents, the British music-hall Tessie might conceivably follow.

Rich is a masculine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a diminutive of Richard, which derives from Germanic elements meaning "powerful" and "brave ruler." As an independent name, Rich emerged in English-speaking countries during the 20th century when abbreviated forms gained popularity. The name carries obvious associations with wealth and abundance, conveying a sense of prosperity and success. Its simplicity and positive connotations have made it appealing, though it remains less common as a formal given name than Richard. As a nickname, Rich has been consistently popular throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, valued for its straightforward, unpretentious quality.

A Robert nickname out of use for hundreds of years, but now sounds cooler than Bob or Rob for a modern boy.

This familiar Irish surname, best known as the name of the mononamed Welsh female singer, is extremely rare as a first name in the US but could make an original Irish choice.

A sparky short form of a variety of names with a similar feel to the likes of Hattie, Essie, Sasha, and Effie. Also used as a surname, it might make an interesting alternative to Stacey, Annie, or Tasha.

Dougie is one of those names that spotlights the huge gulf that can exist between US and UK naming trends. In England and Wales, Dougie is a trendy nickname-name, ranking all the way up at Number 315. In the US, on the other hand, Dougie was used for a grand total of zero baby boys last year. Same thing for short form Doug. Only the father name Douglas ranks in the US Top 1000.

Janey is a feminine name primarily used as a diminutive form of Jane. Jane itself derives from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' Janey carries the same meaning while adding an affectionate, more informal quality through the '-ey' suffix. This sweet, unpretentious name has a friendly, approachable quality that maintains its charm from childhood through adulthood. While never among the most popular names, Janey has maintained consistent usage, particularly in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries. The name peaked in popularity during the mid-20th century but has since become less common, giving it a somewhat vintage appeal. Janey balances familiarity with distinctiveness, offering an alternative to the more formal Jane or the similar-sounding Jamie.

Hodge is a medieval English nickname for Roger, which was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Roger isn't ready for a comeback yet, but we'd love to see the resurgence of Hodge, which never was a common choice in the US.

Occasionally used as an independent name, but why.

Ties to the unfortunate Mama are now unraveling, leaving Cass or Cassie to stand on its own as a fresher sounding Cathy or Kate. With gender-neutral names abound and the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls, Cass may be on the up and up.

Thad is a tad too slight to stand alone as a name, though as a short form of the imposing Thaddeus it's as serviceable as Ted or Ed.

Norm is a masculine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a familiar shortening of Norman. Derived from the Old French 'Normand,' referring to Northmen or Vikings who settled in Normandy, France, the name ultimately means 'man from the north.' Norm peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1930s-1950s, conveying a straightforward, unpretentious quality that embodied mid-century American values. It has a friendly, approachable character that suggests reliability and practicality. While less common for newborns today, the name maintains cultural presence through notable bearers like comedian Norm Macdonald and fictional characters. Its brevity aligns with modern naming trends toward shorter names, though it retains a distinctly mid-century sensibility that may appeal to parents drawn to vintage names with straightforward strength.

Similar to Amy and Romy, Omie is a sweet yet unexpected diminutive of Naomi. It might also work as a short form of Ramona or Salome, and as a feminine form of Omar.

Introduced via Sopranos star Drea (born Andrea) de Matteo, and catching on with a wider audience.

Appealing, lively, and distinctive.

Hy was once a nickname for Hyman, a Jewish Anglicization of Chaim. Today it has gone extinct, for obvious reasons.

Tib and Tibb originated in the 13th century as nicknames for Theobald (for boys) and Isabel and Isabella (for girls). As Isabel grew in popularity, Tib(b) was used more often on girls. By the 16th century, Tib was a term for a young girl, much like Tom was for young boys.

Spence is occasionally used as a name all on its own and it has more of a sense of completeness than many nickname-names.

Frisco is a frisky, roguish semi-place-name (San Francisco natives never call it that) that could make a lively, unusual o-ending choice.