Storybook Girls

Flossie

Diminutive of Florence

"flourishing, prosperous"

Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Appealing, sweet as candy…

Hitty

Diminutive of Mehitabel, Hebrew

"God rejoices"

An old-school nickname for a rare biblical gem. Hetty is a more favorable option.

Meg

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…

Meggie

Meggie is a diminutive form of Margaret, which derives from the Greek word "margarites" meaning "pearl." This affectionate nickname has a sweet, friendly quality that has made it endure through…

Nan

English, diminutive of Nancy

Bobbsey Twins-era nickname name that could find new life via Nan, heroine of The Nanny Diaries. Nan was also the nickname of Annabel St George, the protagonist of Edith Wharton's novel "The…

Petrova

Russian, Bulgarian, "descendent of Peter, Petar, or Pyotr"

"descendent of Peter, Petar, or Pyotr"

A Russian and Bulgarian surname that may sound like a given name to English ears, Petrova means "descendant of Peter" (or of Petar or Pyotr: its Bulgarian and Russian forms) and would be unlikely (or…

Pippi

Norse variation of Philippa

"lover of horses"

Pippi may be cute but isn't very practical. In addition to being forever Pippi Longstocking, there is that variant pee-pee spelling to consider. Try Pippa instead.