11 Names // Clunky Tomboy

Peggy

Diminutive of Margaret, Greek

"pearl"

Just when we had written off Peggy as the eternal perky, pug-nosed prom-queen she projected from the 1920s into the fifties, along came Mad Men , with intriguing mid-century characters with names…

Joan

English feminine variation of John, Hebrew

"God is gracious"

Joan was the perfect name choice for one of the leading characters on Mad Men , being a quintessential girls' name of the period. A Top 10 name in the 30s, a Top 50 name from the 40s through the…

Carey

Irish

"dark, black"

A unisex name in the same vein as Casey, Cassidy, and Kelly, Carey and its alternative spelling Cary were familiar choices for boys in the first half of the 20th-century, and became popular in the…

Bobby

Diminutive of Roberta, English

"bright fame"

Bobby is a nickname-name that's long been used on its own for both girls and boys, though the Bobby spelling is more usually masculine while the girls' version is usually Bobbie. There were just over…

Ronnie

Latin

"she who brings victory; true image"

Androgynous nickname for Veronica, Rhonda or Rona. Traditionally a male nickname for Ronald, Ronnie s finding new life as a girl's name amid the rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls. With its…

Danny

Danny as a feminine name represents a trend of traditionally masculine nicknames adopted as independent given names for girls. Originally a diminutive of Daniel (meaning "God is my judge" in Hebrew),…

Joss

Diminutive of Jocelyn, German

"member of the Gauts tribe"

Joss is more fashionable than Jocelyn or Josslyn. This is a short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone. One of a troupe of adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for…

Jude

Latin diminutive of Judith or variation of Judah, Hebrew, Arabic

"praised; to be generous and good to others"

Jude may be a popular boys' name, thanks to Jude Law, but boyish nicknames for girls - like Frankie and Teddy - are on trend and Jude is also a new way to spin Judy or Judith. It's long been used…

Rudy

German, short form of Rudolph

"famous wolf"

Rudy hasn't yet enjoyed the comeback of cousin name Ruby, despite having been chosen by hip couple Sadie Frost and Jude Law, but it still could happen. Rudy has a lot going for it as a…

Teddy

Diminutive of Theodora, Greek

"gift of God"

Cute boyish short forms like Teddy and Frankie and Billie are in some ways a relic of the past, of the days before unisex names , when girls were given feminized versions of their father's names, but…