Favorite Nicknames

  1. 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.
  2. Bea
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Beatrice
    • Meaning:

      "she who brings happiness"
    • Description:

      Bea is a former old lady name that's cute again as a short form -- and is now beginning to stand on its own. Bee is a variation that, like Bea, can work as a diminutive for any name that starts with the letter B, or in the middle. Bea actually stood alone on the popularity lists for four years at the beginning of the twentieth century--and it could happen again.
  3. Belle
    • Origin:

      Short form of Isabelle or French
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"
    • Description:

      Belle has nothing but positive associations, from "belle of the ball" to "Southern belle" to the heroine of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As if this weren't enough good things, Belle is also one of the most familiar and usable names that mean beautiful. Though it has been overshadowed by the Twilight-influenced Bella and longer forms like Isabella and Annabella, Belle has its own Southern charm and would make a pretty choice as a first or middle name.
  4. Ben/Benny
    • Dora
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Theodora and Isidora, Greek
      • Meaning:

        "gift"
      • Description:

        Dora is poised for a comeback, right behind Laura, Nora, Cora, and Flora. First-time parents who haven't watched cartoons in a couple of decades should be aware of the Dora the Explorer connection, which has its pluses and minuses.
    • Dottie
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Dorothy
      • Meaning:

        "gift of God"
      • Description:

        Dottie and Dot are old Dorothy nicknames that some cutting-edge Brits are bringing back to fashion. It's been half a century since Dottie ranked on its own in this country, one of those nickname names that flourished in the 1890's.
    • Eliza
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "pledged to God"
      • Description:

        Eliza is a name with a wonderful combination of streamlined zest and Eliza Doolittle charm and spunk. It's a classic that's popular right now -- but not too popular.
    • Fina
      • Francie
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Frances, English from Latin
        • Meaning:

          "from France; free man"
        • Description:

          Francie is one of the most neglected nicknames for Frances, despite having more style value than Franny and Fanny and being more unique than Frankie. We'd love to see it get more use, whether as a Frances short form or as an independent name.
      • Hattie
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Harriet
        • Meaning:

          "estate ruler"
        • Description:

          In the USA, Hattie is one of those nicknames that is now more popular than its parent name, Harriet. In England, however, Harriet is still by far more popular than Hattie, while in Australia, Harriet is highly popular while no data exists on Hattie. In the US, we’d like to see Harriet get more usage but we’re happy to see Hattie again.
      • Jack
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of John
        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"
        • Description:

          Jack may have fallen from its Number 1 place in England, but in the US it's as popular as it was at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. A durable, cheery, everyman form of John, Jack ranks as one of the most popular boy names starting with J.
      • Janie
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Jane, English
        • Meaning:

          "God is gracious"
        • Description:

          Will this old-fashioned nickname make a comeback, now that Jane has shed her "plain" image? Janie is cute and approachable, and would stand as well on the birth certificate as Josie and Jessie do now.
      • Josie
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "Jehovah increases"
        • Description:

          Josie is jaunty and friendly: among the most winning of all nickname names. She's been on the social security list since records began being kept.
      • Kate
        • Origin:

          English, diminutive of Katherine
        • Meaning:

          "pure"
        • Description:

          Kate, in the headlines via Catherine Middleton aka the Princess of Wales, has been as pervasive as Kathy was in the 1950s and 1960s, both as a nickname for Katherine and Kaitlyn and as a strong, classic stand-alone name.
      • Leo
        • Origin:

          Latin
        • Meaning:

          "lion"
        • Description:

          Leo is a strong-yet-friendly name that was common among the Romans, used for thirteen popes, and is now at its highest point ever in the US thanks in part to Leonardo "Leo" DiCaprio.
      • Liam
        • Origin:

          Irish short form of William
        • Meaning:

          "resolute protection"
        • Description:

          Liam is the top boys' name in the US, holding the Number 1 spot for the past seven years and also ranking as one of the most popular boys' names around the western world.
      • Lizzy
        • Lottie
          • Origin:

            English, diminutive of Charlotte
          • Meaning:

            "free man"
          • Description:

            Lottie is a nostalgic great-grandma name that conjures up lockets and lace, and — like Nellie, Josie, Hattie, Tillie, and Milly — has considerable vintage charm.
        • Lulu
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Louise or Lucy, or Arabic
          • Meaning:

            "pearl"
          • Description:

            Lula has a firecracker personality, a singing and dancing extrovert. Interesting that Lulu was a Top 100 name when the Social Security list was born in 1880, but it's been sliding ever since and has not been in the Top 1000 for decades. Modern parents in love with Lulu might well reverse that trend.
        • Lydie