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Names with a nicknamey feel

  1. Clancy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "red-haired warrior"

    • Description:

      Clancy, one of the original crossover Irish surname names, is as energetic and appealing as ever — full of moxie, more distinctive than Casey, and also one of the less obvious of the red-headed names.
  2. Tansy

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "immortality"

    • Description:

      Tansy is a flower name rarer than Rose, livelier than Lily and a lot less teasable than Pansy.
  3. Nelly

    • Origin:

      Variation of Nellie and Nell

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Nelly or Nellie is an adorable nickname name that can be short for a wide range of more formal appellations or that can stand on its own, and is typical of the vintage nickname genre that is growing in popularity. While Nelly can be used for several different names, from Helen to Eleanor to Cornelia, it has stood on its own for more than a century. It was one of the most popular names – spelled as Nellie – in the U.S. at the end of the 1800s.
  4. Ginny

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Virginia, Ginevra, Genevieve, or Imogen

    • Meaning:

      "virgin, pure; white wave; maiden"

    • Description:

      A nickname to Latin Virginia, French Genevieve, Italian Ginevra, English Imogen, and any other name with the 'gin' sound in there, Ginny ranked in the latter end of the US charts in the mid 20th century. Made familiar again in the contemporary world by the show Ginny & Georgia, along with the Harry Potter character, Ginny has seen a small amount of attention in recent years, given to around 50 babies in the latest stats.
  5. Joss

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Jocelin

    • Meaning:

      "the merry one"

    • Description:

      Joss hadn't been heard much in this country before the emergence of Joss (born Joseph) Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, et al; it would make a catchy middle name choice. Female British singer Joss Stone was born Jocelyn.
  6. Allie

    • Origin:

      Variation or diminutive of Alexandra, Alice or Allison; Greek, German or Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "defending men or noble"

    • Description:

      Allie is one short form that's gotten so popular it's often used as a name on its own. Cute, friendly, yet we'd recommend using one of the proper names such as Alice to give your daughter an option.
  7. 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.
  8. Landry

    • Origin:

      French and English

    • Meaning:

      "ruler"

    • Description:

      Landry is one rising surname name, often after legendary Dallas Cowboys football coach Tom Landry, that is given to boys and girls. But the y ending does give it a feminine sound (as opposed to the more boyish and more popular Landon). Land is a Landry nickname that might work for boys or girls.
  9. Marcy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Marcia

    • Meaning:

      "Mars, god of war"

    • Description:

      Marcy is about as hip as bobby sox and saddle shoes – which is to say, it's probably due a revival in the not-too-distant future! It was a typical Peanuts character name, which peaked in the seventies, but is starting to attract attention again across the pond, where soundalikes like Macy, Marnie, Maisy, Darcy and Lacey are already popular.
  10. Pip

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Philip

    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"

    • Description:

      The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
  11. Abram

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"

    • Description:

      Abram was Abraham's original name in the Bible; it's more user-friendly but with a bit less gravitas. And it does offer that cool nickname Bram, as well as the friendly Abe. After some early American usage, in 1936 Abram completely disappeared for nearly forty years, until its return in the 1970s.
  12. Essie

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Esther, Persian, or Estelle, French

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.
  13. Alby

    • Description:

      Alby is a diminutive form of Albert or Albin, carrying a friendly, approachable quality. Of Germanic origin, it means 'noble' or 'bright' depending on its root name. While less common as a standalone name, Alby has maintained modest usage as both a nickname and given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its short, two-syllable structure makes it appealing for parents seeking a name that's simple yet distinctive. Alby has a youthful charm that can transition well into adulthood, balancing familiarity with uniqueness. In popular culture, characters named Alby have appeared in literature and film, slightly boosting its recognition without making it overly common.
  14. Mitzi

    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Maria

    • Meaning:

      "bitter"

    • Description:

      Mitzi is a spunky German nickname name that might appeal to parents drawn to the genre of lively vintage chorus girl names that proliferated in 1930's musicals. Lively entertainer Mitzi Gaynor--who was originally named Francesca Marlene de Czani von Gerber--made the name notable in mid-century America.
  15. Clem

    • Origin:

      , English, diminutive of Clement

    • Description:

      Laid-back and humble, with a distinctive down-home charm.
  16. Ami

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Sanskrit, or variation of Amy

    • Meaning:

      "second beauty; second ocean; second truth; nectar; beloved"

    • Description:

      A multicultural unisex choice that peaked for girls at the same time as Amy. Ami is also the French word for "friend."
  17. Mally

    • Origin:

      Scottish short form of Mary, Hebrew or Egyptian,"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

    • Description:

      Mally actually has several possible derivations beyond being a medieval nickname, ala Molly, for Mary . It might be a diminutive of names like Mallory, derived from French meaning "unfortunate" or "unlucky," or as a nickname for Amalia, meaning "work" or "labor" in Germanic languages.
  18. Cass

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Cassandra or Cassia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "shining or excelling man; cinnamon"

    • Description:

      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.
  19. Posy

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "a bunch of flowers"

    • Description:

      A sweet, nostalgic nosegay kind of name, Posy has been long fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is still rarely heard in the US, though it could be seen as a more unusual possible alternative to Rosy or Josie.
  20. Raffy

    • Description:

      Raffy is a diminutive masculine name that typically serves as a nickname for Rafael or Raphael, names derived from the Hebrew 'Rafa'el' meaning 'God has healed.' This playful shortened form maintains the friendly, approachable quality that diminutives often provide while offering a more casual alternative to the formal Rafael. The -y ending gives it a youthful charm that can work well for both children and adults seeking a less formal version of their name. Raffy has gained some independent usage, particularly in Filipino communities and other cultures where nickname forms sometimes become given names in their own right. The name has a cheerful, energetic quality that resonates across different cultures while maintaining its connection to the ancient and revered name Raphael.