'Nickname' names

  1. Lettie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Letitia, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "joy, gladness"
    • Description:

      Lettie, also spelled Letty, is a nickname name that until recently, had rarely been heard since the 1950s. Now, this treasured antique is on the rise, fitting right in with the trend for old-fashioned, down-to-earth nickname, such as Lottie, Hettie, Hattie, Josie, and Maisie.
  2. Betsy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      This Elizabeth nickname has a decidedly retro feel--think Betsy Ross and the Betsy Wetsy doll-- once seen as a perkier, younger-sounding alternative to Betty. But with Betty on the brink of a comeback, pigtailed Betsy could return as well.
  3. Lula
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of any Lu name
    • Description:

      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 Lucy or Louise, or may stand on its own two adorable feet. Lula was actually a Top 50 name in the late 1880's and continued in the Top 100 for a couple of decades more.
  4. Posey
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "a bunch of flowers"
    • Description:

      Posey is fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is only starting to be heard here.
  5. Tillie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Matilda
    • Meaning:

      "battle mighty"
    • Description:

      A surprise recent hit revival with cutting-edge British, Tribeca and Malibu parents; Tillie, also spelled Tilly, is cute, frilly, and sassy all at once. Tilly is currently Number 90 on the England-Wales popularity list, joining such other Top 100 nickname names as Milly, Maisie, Kitty and Lottie. Tillie along with these other short forms transform proper names rooted in other cultures into true English names for girls.
  6. Emme
    • Origin:

      Variation of Emmy, English diminutive of Emily and Emma
    • Meaning:

      "work; universal"
    • Description:

      Introduced by model Emme (born Melissa) and now a legitimate member of the Em-starting girls' name group, especially since it was chosen by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for their twin daughter.
  7. Ouisa
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Louisa
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      Wheezy short form of lovely name, featured in the movie "Steel Magnolias", spelled as Ouiser. Similar, literary Ouida is less breathy, while Lou, Lulu, Lula, Lissy or Whizz might appeal instead.
  8. Drea
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Andrea, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

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

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