​
​
Advanced Search

Nicknames

iolite
By iolite
Updated Sun Mar 19 2023
  1. Arnie

    • Origin:

      Short form of Arnold, English from German

    • Meaning:

      "ruler, strong as an eagle"

    • Description:

      Arnie is a nerdy-tipping-into-cute nickname that may rise again, if not for this generation of babies then for their babies. Look for it in the nurseries of 2050.
  2. Birdie

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "bird"

    • Description:

      Birdie was until recently a middle-aged Ladies' Club member wearing a bird-decorated hat --but now it's just the kind of vintage nickname (think Hattie, Josie, Mamie, Millie) that's coming back into style in a big way. Actress Busy Philipps named her baby Birdie (inspired by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson), as did soap star Maura West.
  3. Bo

    • Origin:

      Norse nickname

    • Meaning:

      "to live"

    • Description:

      A popular name in Denmark, in this country Bo has some cowboy swagger and a lot of substance in its minimal two letters. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
  4. Bram

    • Origin:

      Dutch variation of Abraham, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"

    • Description:

      Bram has an unusual measure of character and charm for a one-syllable name; it started as a hipper-than-Abe diminutive of the biblical Abraham, but is also an independent Irish and Dutch name, made famous by Irish-born Dracula creator Bram (nee Abraham) Stoker. Bram is currently Number 16 in the Netherlands; Bram Howard was a character on The West Wing.
  5. Clem

    • Origin:

      , English, diminutive of Clement

    • Description:

      Laid-back and humble, with a distinctive down-home charm.
  6. Dot

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Dorothy

    • Description:

      Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.
  7. Effie

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Euphemia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pleasant speech"

    • Description:

      Effie is the old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty although is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
  8. Elvie

    • Origin:

      Short form of Elva, Irish

    • Meaning:

      "leader of the elves"

    • Description:

      If Ellie and Evie are fashionable, why not Elvie? This is a diminutive of the Anglicized version of the Irish name spelled Ailbhe.
  9. Essie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Esther, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.
  10. Fancy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frances

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Old fashioned nickname that some girls just might be able to pull off. You'd just have to be sure your little Fancy was one of them.
  11. Flossie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Florence

    • Meaning:

      "flourishing, prosperous"

    • Description:

      Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Flossie was one of the younger twins in the iconic children's book series The Bobbsey Twins, first published in 1904. Appealing, if a little cutesy--sweet as candy floss. A similar name is Florrie.
  12. Frank

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Francis or Franklin

    • Meaning:

      "Frenchman or free man"

    • Description:

      A Top 10 name from the 1880s until the 1920s, Frank has been falling for decades but last year reversed course for the first time in a century, edging up the popularity list a few notches. And Frank still has a certain warm, friendly real-guy grandpa flavor that could come back into style, like other such choices as Jake and Jack.
  13. Freddy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frederick

    • Meaning:

      "peaceful ruler"

    • Description:

      Another old-school nickname getting new attention thanks to TV's Mad Men. Names like Fred, Pete, and George have been out so long it's time for them to come back in. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015 following a two-year absence from the list. It currently ranks Number 199 in England and Wales.
  14. Gene

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Eugene, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"

    • Description:

      Like Ray, a formerly funky nickname name that is newly cool. Comedian Amy Schumer used it for her son.
  15. Genie

    • Description:

      Genie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of names like Eugenia, Eugenie, or Imogene, though it's now often used independently. The name inevitably evokes connections to mythological spirits from Arabic folklore (jinn), especially following the popularization of genies in Western culture through stories like Aladdin. The name peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. Genie has a whimsical, magical quality that suggests someone with a vibrant, wish-fulfilling personality. Despite its fantastical associations, the name has a sweet simplicity and vintage charm that has kept it in occasional use, though it remains relatively uncommon.

  16. Jem

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of James or Jeremiah

    • Description:

      This name of the ten-year-old boy in the much loved and acclaimed modern classic To Kill a Mockingbird could find favor along with that of the character's sister, Scout.
  17. Kit

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Christopher

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"

    • Description:

      Actor Kit Harington, aka the dreamy Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, has given this nickname-name new style and appeal for boys. Actress Jodie Foster used it for her son back in the 2000s, while actor Kit Connor of Heartstopper fame may have introduced it to a wider audience.
  18. Lonny

    • Origin:

      Short form of Alonso or Alonzo, Spanish or Italian

    • Meaning:

      "noble and ready"

    • Description:

      The Spanish Alonso and the Italian Alonzo are both widely used in the US, so you may meet more guys named Lonny than you expect.
  19. Lou

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Louis or Lewis, French and German

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Lou, all by itself, is become fashionable for girls, which usually makes a name LESS fashionable for boys. But Lou, like Bill or Jim, is rarely used on its own for boys anyway. (You wouldn't name a boy Frederick Lou the way that girls are named Mary Lou or, in the case of Keri Russell's new baby, Willa Lou.) Long form Louis is getting cool again and, with the Lewis spelling, is the Number 2 name in Scotland.
  20. Max

    • Origin:

      English and German diminutive of Maximilian or Maxwell

    • Meaning:

      "greatest"

    • Description:

      Max was derived from Maximilian, a Latin name that originated from the Roman family name Maximus. The character name Max in the children's classic Where the Wild Things Are had an impact on baby namers. Max is a widely used name internationally.