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Unisex Nicknames

Kai
By Kai
Updated Thu May 25 2023
  1. Alex

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexander, Alexis

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      The independent Alex has become a classic in its own right. One of the truest unisex names, Alex is used almost equally for both sexes. Alex is used both on its own and as a short form of formal names of both genders, such as Alexander, Alexandra, and Alexis.
  2. Andy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrew, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Although we prefer Drew to the old Raggedy Andy, Andy has overtaken Drew as a name in its own right. About twice as many baby boys are named Andy, just Andy -- though about eight times as many parents go with the full Andrew.
  3. Bobby

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      Bobby is the quintessential mid-century nickname, the name of the son on Mad Men and overused to the point of cliche. Though Robert is still a highly popular choice, most Roberts today are called by their full name or Rob or Robbie rather than Bob or Bobby.
  4. Charlie

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Charles, French from German

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Charlie derives, of course, from the classic name Charles which, in turn, comes from a German word meaning "free man." Charles became very popular in France during the Middle Ages due to the fame of Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne. Charley is an alternate spelling.
  5. Chris

    • Origin:

      English nickname for Christian, Christopher

    • Meaning:

      "one who carries Christ"

    • Description:

      Chris is a long-running nickname used almost equally for boys and girls. While past its prime, Chris stands out as sounding completely appropriate for both sexes, perhaps because of its widespread use as a short form of both the popular Christopher and Christine. Chris manages to retain its crisp appeal even though its fashion moment is over.
  6. Danny

    • Origin:

      Short form of Daniel, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is my judge"

    • Description:

      A diminutive of Daniel that's been immortalized in odes ranging from 'Danny Boy' to 'Danny's Song.'
  7. Frankie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frank, Francis, or Franklin, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"

    • Description:

      Frankie used to be a name used for near-equal numbers of girls and boys. In 2015, it ranked Number 992 for both genders in the US.
  8. 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.
  9. Gabe

    • Origin:

      Short form of Gabriel, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is my strength"

    • Description:

      Gabe ranked in the Top 1000 from 1880 until 1905, when it fell into obscurity. There are fewer than 100 boys named Gabe, just plain Gabe, each year in the US, compared with over 10,000 named Gabriel. Our advice: Go with the crowd and choose the angelic long form, and then call him Gabe if you want to.
  10. Georgie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of George, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "farmer"

    • Description:

      A warm and cuddly nickname name, although he famously "kissed the girls and made them cry" in the old nursery rhyme.
  11. Gerry

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Geraldine

    • Description:

      Gerry was hep along with poodle skirts and banana splits.
  12. Gussie

    • Description:

      Gussie is traditionally a masculine nickname that originated as a diminutive for names like Augustus, Augustine, or Gustav. These parent names have Latin and Germanic roots meaning "revered," "great," or "staff of the Goths." Gussie was fairly common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the southern United States, giving it a vintage, folksy charm. While primarily used for boys historically, it occasionally appeared as a nickname for girls named Augusta or Augustine as well. The name declined in popularity after the 1920s but retains nostalgic appeal. Gussie exemplifies the trend of reviving antique nickname-names as formal names, appealing to parents drawn to names with historical character and unpretentious warmth.

  13. Harry

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Henry

    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"

    • Description:

      Harry is the medieval English form of Henry, which derived from the Germanic name Heimrich, meaning "estate ruler." Harry was the nickname of all eight King Henrys; it is also a diminutive of Harold and Harrison.
  14. Izzy

    • Origin:

      Nickname

    • Description:

      Multipurpose pet name serving Isidore, Isaac, Israel, and -- increasingly -- Isabel.
  15. Jackie

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

      Jackie Kennedy gave this name a lot of style, but it doesn't seem destined for a comeback the way brother name Jack has. Jackie and Jacqueline both peaked in 1961.
  16. Jamie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of James

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

      The cool form of James in the 1970s and '80s for both sexes. Still a more stylish short form than Jimmy, though many parents will want to call James by his entire, not-very-long name.
  17. Jessie

    • Origin:

      Variation of Jesse

    • Description:

      The -ie version is usually for girls, with the simple e ending—pronounced the same as Jessie—for boys, though the spellings sometimes cross gender lines.
  18. Jo

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Joanna or Josephine, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      The name Jo still evokes the spunky image of the character in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Its literary status makes Jo one of the OG boyish nicknames for girls, ala Frankie, Billie, and Stevie. If you like that form, you can lengthen it to Joey.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.