Names with a nicknamey feel

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Lacey
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from Lassy"
    • Description:

      A unique combination of a surname feel and dainty femininity, Lacey is a favorite in the UK where it ranks in the Top 500. Likely derived from the name of a place in Normandy, it might occasionally be considered a diminutive to Wallace ("Welshman") or Larissa ("citadel").
  4. Nixie
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "water nymph"
    • Description:

      If you love Dixie, Trixie and Pixie, this name of a mermaid-like sprite in German folklore may be for you. It might also make an update for Nicki.
  5. Libby
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Through all the years when Betty, Betsy, Beth, Liz, and Lizzie were the Elizabethan nicknames of choice, the bubblier Libby was set aside, but today it may be the most modern of all—it has already made a strong comeback in England and Wales, where it ranks Number 139.
  6. Mitzi
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Maria
    • Meaning:

      "beloved; drop of the sea, bitter"
    • Description:

      Mitzi is a sparky German nickname name that might appeal to parents drawn to the genre of lively vintage girl names that proliferated in 1930's musicals. Actress and entertainer Mitzi Gaynor (born Francesca Marlene de Czani von Gerber) made this a notable name in mid-century America, where it ranked alongside Jerri, Sherri, Christi, Jodi, and Mimi.
  7. 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.
  8. Alby
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Albert or Albin, German or Latin
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright or white"
    • Description:

      Alby is a diminutive form of Albert or Albin, friendly and approachable. It can also be spelled Albie.
  9. Lonnie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Alonso or Alonzo, variations of Alphonso
    • Meaning:

      "noble, ready"
    • Description:

      Lonnie is one of those antiquated nicknames that is used much more often in the US than you might think, especially as a short form of Alonso or Alonzo, names always on the US Top 1000.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  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. 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."
  14. Misty
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "mist"
    • Description:

      The Play Misty for Me jokes will get old really fast.
  15. 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.
  16. Jaz
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Jasmine or Jasper
    • Description:

      Unisex variation of Jazz or Jasper that couldn't say it more plainly. Used for their daughter by tennis couple Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.
  17. 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.
  18. Tor
    • Origin:

      Norwegian and Swedish variation of Thor, Hebrew, English
    • Meaning:

      "thunder; turtledove; victor; hill, rocky peak"
    • Description:

      An interesting and attractive multicultural choice, Tor packs a lot in to three letters. It may be used as a modern form of Þórr (Thor) , the name of the Norse thunder god or as a short form of Victor/Viktor and Hector, giving it the meaning "conqueror, victor" or "holding fast".

      As a Hebrew name, it means "turtle-dove" and is a favorite choice for babies born in spring, when turtledoves arrive, especially as a middle, while as an English word name, it may refer to a rocky peak or hill, as in the Glastonbury Tor.
  19. Keats
    • Origin:

      English literary name
    • Meaning:

      "kite"
    • Description:

      Poetic and easy to pronounce (it's keets), this is one of many poets' names to consider, such as Auden, Eliot, Frost, Byron, Lorca, Marlowe, Blake, Emerson and Tennyson. Likely meaning "kite", in reference to the bird of the same name, it could also be used as a nickname to Keaton, or as an alternative to vintage Kit.
  20. Clem
    • Origin:

      , English, diminutive of Clement
    • Description:

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

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