Masterlist Of Nicknames For Penelope
By sipping.waterfalls
Updated Wed Jan 07 2026
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A giant list of all the nicknames I could think of or find for the name Penelope.
- Ella
Origin:
German; EnglishMeaning:
"all, completely; fairy maiden"Description:
Ella is a sweet, simple name that owes much of its current popularity to the popularity of other names, from Emma to Bella to Emily to Ellie.
- Pippa
Origin:
English, diminutive of PhilippaMeaning:
"lover of horses"Description:
Pippa, a peppy condensation of Philippa that turns it from serious to sprightly, has come into the public eye in a big way via the former Kate Middleton's sister.
- Poppy
Origin:
Flower name, English from LatinMeaning:
"red flower"Description:
Poppy, unlike most floral names which are sweet and feminine, has a lot of spunk. Long popular throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Poppy is finally starting to rise toward the top in the US, where it entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.
- Lola
Origin:
Spanish, diminutive of DoloresMeaning:
"lady of sorrows"Description:
A hot starbaby name – chosen by Kelly Ripa, Chris Rock, Lisa Bonet, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, Carnie Wilson, and Annie Lennox, and used as the nickname of Madonna's Lourdes – Lola manages to feel fun and sassy without going over the top. Be warned, though: "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets," to quote a song from the show Damn Yankees.
- Nell
Origin:
English, diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et alMeaning:
"bright, shining one"Description:
Nell, once a nickname for Helen, Ellen, or Eleanor, is a sweet old-fashioned charmer that is fashionably used today in its own right. While Nell is perfectly in tune with contemporary vintage name style, it hasn't taken off the way some of its sisters have and so maintains an air of distinction. Use Nell or Nellie as a short for any name from Eleanor to Penelope or just name her Nell.
- Ellie
Origin:
English, diminutive of Eleanor and EllenMeaning:
"bright shining one"Description:
Ellie first took off in the UK—yes, in this nickname form—and this warm and friendly name has also become hugely popular here. In 2011, Ellie entered the US Top 100 girl names for the first time and has remained near the top of the charts ever since.
- Nellie
Origin:
Diminutive of Helen, Ellen, and Eleanor, English, SwedishMeaning:
"light, shining torch"Description:
This sweet nickname name has seen a recent revival in the US, breaking the Top 1000 in 2019 for the first time in 40 years. By 2024, it became one of the fastest rising girl names, chasing sister name Eleanor up the charts, spurred on by the rise of other vintage gems like Margot, Millie, Willa, and Lottie.
- Polly
Origin:
English variation of Molly, diminutive of Mary, HebrewMeaning:
"bitter"Description:
An alternative to the no-longer-fresh Molly, the initial 'P' gives Polly a peppier sound, combining the cozy virtues of an old-timey name with the bounce of a barmaid.
- Elle
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"she"Description:
Combine the charming heroine of the movie Legally Blonde with supermodel Elle Macpherson and the trend toward all names beginning with "el"—Ellie, Ella, Eleanor—and you have one hit name.
- Posy
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"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.
- Penny
Origin:
English, diminutive of Penelope, GreekMeaning:
"weaver"Description:
Like Peggy and Patsy, Penny is a peppy vintage nickname that fell out of favor (and the Top 1000) for a while, but has recently rebounded by reentering the charts in 2013. Expect it to continue gaining traction on the heels of Penelope.
- Posie
Origin:
Variation of Posy or short form of Mariposa, English or SpanishMeaning:
"a bunch of flowers or butterfly"Description:
Posie and its near-identical twins Posy and Posey are delicate old-fashioned flower names of the type that are stylish today: Think Poppy, Marigold, Clover.
- Pepper
Origin:
English from Latin, Sanskrit, "the pepper plant; berry"Meaning:
"the pepper plant; berry"Description:
With its bubbly sounds and stylish feel, Pepper joins a small but distinctive group of names inspired by the spice rack: Saffron, Juniper, Cassia, Sage, Ginger, and Rosemary. Enough like Pippa, Piper and Penelope that it feels usable, Pepper has appeared every year in the US stats since the 60s.
- Posey
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a bunch of flowers"Description:
Posey is fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is only starting to be heard here.
- Nella
Description:
Nella is a feminine name with Italian and Germanic origins. It can be a standalone name or a diminutive of names like Petronella, Antonella, or Cornelia. In Italian, it literally means 'at the' or 'in the,' while as a short form, it often inherits meanings from its longer versions. Nella has historical usage dating back centuries but has experienced periods of renewed popularity in recent decades. The name has a vintage charm that appeals to parents seeking something classic yet not overused. With its brief two syllables and melodic sound, Nella strikes a balance between simplicity and distinctiveness. The name carries connotations of sweetness and strength, making it versatile for different personalities.
- Nelly
Origin:
Variation of Nellie and NellMeaning:
"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.
- Lollie
Origin:
Diminutive of Charlotte, Laura, Dolores, and similarMeaning:
"free man; laurel; lady of sorrows"Description:
A sweet and rare nickname for Charlotte. Lollie would also work as a short form of other names with a strong L sound, such as Laura, Lauren, Dolores, Lola, Lorelei, Louisa, Elodie, Lois, Ottilie, Olive, Ololade, and beyond. Also spelled as Lolly, it featured in the US Top 1000 back in the late 19th century, and when combined with its alternative spelling, more than 60 girls have received it as a stand-alone since the 2000s.
- Peppa
Origin:
Diminutive of Giuseppa, ItalianMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Not long ago, Peppa may have been at risk for confusion with the name Pepper. But thanks to the British children's TV series Peppa Pig, Peppa is now a household name. If your household contains preschoolers, that is.
- Pixie
Origin:
Swedish or CornishMeaning:
"fairy"Description:
Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x. Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally recognized as a sprite or fairy: tiny, sometimes green, usually pointy-eared.
- Poppie
Origin:
Spelling variation of Poppy, flower nameDescription:
Stylish in the UK, Poppie is a variation of Poppy with the cutesy -ie ending of Maisie, Millie, and Elsie. It ranked in the England and Wales Top 1000 between 2004 and 2022 and a recent year saw it rank at #1097, alongside Yana, Rylee, Navie, and Petra.
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