User-created list
By AerieEerie · Updated May 2023
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English, combination of Mary and Lou
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + famous battle"
Truncated form of Marylouise. As two separate words, Mary Lou has popped up a number of times, as the title, for example, of two early feature films. There's also a Nickelodeon actress named Mary Lou…
Diminutive of Gillian or Juliana
"youthful"
Probably due to its nursery rhyme association, Jill has the perpetual air of a rosy-cheeked tot -- even though it is one of the oldest names on the roster, a medieval variation on the Roman Julia.…
Feminine form of Glenn, English, Scottish
"valley"
Part nature name, part mid-century favorite, Glenda came into use in the 20th century as a feminine form of Scottish Glenn, likely inspired by Linda and Wanda too. While Glenn would give it the…
Compound name, blending Ruth and Anne
"compassionate and gracious friend"
Short and sharp but endearing too, Ruthanne is a combination of two classic names. Briefly popular in the 40s, Ruthanne is still given to around 15 girls each year - and, with Ruthie back on the…
Short form of Christina
Fading since the 1970s -- but still a lovely name.
Phil is a masculine name primarily used as a familiar short form of Philip or Phillip, though it occasionally stands as an independent given name. Derived from the Greek name Philippos meaning 'lover…
Diminutive of Ralph
"wolf-counsel"
Ralphie is one of those short forms that have been out of style for so long it just might have a chance of coming back in, if you can get past seeing it as a desperate attempt to cute-ify a stodgy…
Mackie is a masculine name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Macky, which is a diminutive of Mac or Mack, meaning 'son of.' It began as a surname or clan name, often representing…
Scottish
"fort of Michael"
Most parents would prefer to leave the car part parked in the garage.
Hebrew
"God is gracious"
More modern options: Shaw, Shay, or even Sean.
Greek
"green bough"
Phyllis has been used by classical poets for the idealized pastoral maiden. A Greek mythological name of a woman who was turned into an almond tree, Phyllis was in the Top 100 from 1916 to 1958,…
Variation of Cheryl, English compound name blending Cheryl and Lyn
"dear lake; dear + pretty"
Sweet and retro, Cherilyn peaked in 1972, when Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) rose to fame. Possibly not quite ready for a comeback, though perhaps fun nickname Cherry might swing it.
Diminutive of Conrad or Constantine
One of those Old World nicknames -- think Sally and Patsy -- that long ago crossed over to the girls' side.
Variation of Roger, German
"famous warrior"
Hodge is a medieval English nickname for Roger, which was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Roger isn't ready for a comeback yet, but we'd love to see the resurgence of Hodge,…
Irish
"sea tide"
Hurley is a possibility as a unisex surname-name ending with the "lee" sound. It is perhaps most associated with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, and is much rarer than Harley, because the "ur"…
Jimbo is a masculine name that originated as a familiar, affectionate nickname for James. With English-American origins, it combines the shortened form 'Jim' with the suffix 'bo,' which was a popular…
Variation of Paul, Latin
"small"
Paulie is one short form that never caught on the way Stevie and Danny did, except for the sadistic mama's boy on The Sopranos . Pauley buttons it up and turns it into a surname.
Phonetic spelling of St. John
The name St. John is much more usable in its phonetic spelling — similar to the way St. Clair evolved into Sinclair. St. John has some literary cred — St. John Rivers is a cool character in Jane Eyre…
Diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
Meg, perennially one of the Little Women, is a Margaret short form that manages to be neither quite in nor quite out of style. Meg is sleeker and more sophisticated than Maggie, more contemporary…
Diminutive of Margaret
Sixties-style nickname which is also the name of a small biting insect, particularly prevalent in Scotland.
