​
​
Advanced Search

Names by Nickname

  1. Sissy

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cecilia; pet name for "sister"

    • Meaning:

      "sister"

    • Description:

      Old-fashioned nickname for a sister, almost never heard today.
  2. Cindy

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Cynthia, Greek, or Lucinda, Spanish and Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "moon goddess, woman from Kynthos; "

    • Description:

      Cindy as a name in its own right made it into the Top 20 in 1957 and remained a Top 200 girls' name until the end of the 20th century. Although it's fallen precipitously since then and left the Top 1000 completely in 2015, Cindy remains a name commonly heard in the US. Today, though, it would more likely be attached to moms or grandmas than to babies.
  3. Dewi

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Dafydd, Welsh variation of David

    • Description:

      The name of the patron saint of Wales is virtually unknown in the US under this spelling. There were no baby boys named Dewi or Dewie in the US in 2021, though there were 35 named Dewey. Incredibly enough, Dewey ranked among the US Top 1000 for an entire century, from 1887 to 1986, reaching as high as Number 19 in 1898.
  4. Law

    • Description:

      Law is a masculine name with multiple origins and meanings. As an English surname-turned-first-name, it derives from the Old English 'hlaw' meaning 'hill' or as a shortened form of Lawrence, meaning 'from Laurentum' (an ancient Italian city). The name also carries obvious associations with legal systems and moral principles. While traditionally uncommon as a first name, Law gained some recognition through actor Jude Law. Its brevity makes it distinctive in an era of longer male names, offering a strong, commanding presence in just one syllable. The name's simplicity, powerful connotations of justice, and contemporary feel have attracted parents seeking something unconventional yet meaningful with professional gravitas.

  5. Mal

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Malcolm, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "devotee of St. Colomba"

    • Description:

      A nickname for Malcolm that at one point ranked independently on the US Top 1000. It still exists as an affectionate pet form, but you’re unlikely to hear a Malcolm introduce himself as Mal.
  6. Ama

    • Origin:

      Ewe, Akan, Ghanaian, Cherokee

    • Meaning:

      "born on Saturday; water"

    • Description:

      Ama is a day name used by the Akan people of Ghana for girls born on Saturday. Names that reference a baby's birth by day of the week, time of day, or season of the year are common in many African cultures. Ama is one that can be used happily by parents who live in English-speaking countries.
  7. Llew

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "lion, leader"

    • Description:

      Welsh for "lion", or a nickname for Llewelyn. Could make a cooler substitute for the blander Lou.
  8. Russ

    • Origin:

      Variation of Russell, French

    • Meaning:

      "redhead, fox-colored"

    • Description:

      Short but substantial, Russ does not need the full-form Russell to go on the birth certificate. Russ strikes a nice balance between familiar, friendly, and underused.
  9. Gussie

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Augusta, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      Gussie fits the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside Charlie and Frankie. But Gussie is a bit fussy — try Gus.
  10. Pim

    • Origin:

      Dutch diminutive of Willem or William

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"

    • Description:

      Pim is traditionally a male nickname in the Netherlands, but its relative obscurity in the US would allow you to get away with using it for a daughter. This name has never been recorded in the US - for boys or girls. But it's style match with other slim, boyish nicknames for girls like Lou and Scout means Pim may not stay off the grid for much longer.
  11. Betsan

    • Origin:

      Welsh pet form of Elizabeth

    • Description:

      Betsan is little-known outside of the U.K. but it could provide an intriguing alternative to Liz, Beth, Betsy, Betty, and Libby.
  12. Exie

    • Description:

      Exie is a vintage feminine name that enjoyed modest popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often used as a nickname for names beginning with 'Ex-' or as a diminutive for Elizabeth or Exilda, it has a quaint, old-fashioned charm. The name nearly disappeared from usage by the mid-20th century, making it extremely rare today. Its brevity and distinctive sound give it potential appeal to modern parents seeking truly uncommon vintage names. Exie has Southern American associations, as it appeared more frequently in Southern states during its peak usage. The name's simplicity and unique 'x' sound offer a combination of antique appeal and contemporary phonetic interest.
  13. Osie

    • Description:

      Osie is a feminine name with multiple origins. It can be a diminutive of names like Oswald (Anglo-Saxon for "divine power"), Osborne ("god bear"), or Oceanus (Greek for "ocean"). In some communities, it functions as a nickname for Josephine or Osiris. The name has a vintage, Southern charm in American contexts, particularly in rural communities. Osie peaked in the early 1900s but has remained quite rare. Its short, melodic sound gives it a gentle, approachable quality. The name carries a subtle sweetness and simplicity that appeals to parents looking for something distinctive yet unpretentious, with historical roots but a sound that works well in contemporary settings.
  14. Biddy

    • Origin:

      Irish and English diminutive of Bridget

    • Meaning:

      "strength or exalted one"

    • Description:

      A once very common Irish diminutive of Bridget that has unfortunately been associated since the 18th century with a pejorative slang term for an old or fussy woman.
  15. Ilka

    • Origin:

      Hungarian, diminutive of Ilona; variation of Helen

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining one"

    • Description:

      To some, may have the same warm feeling of Russian nicknames like Sasha and Misha.
  16. Chip

    • Origin:

      Pet name for Charles

    • Description:

      Only if you're madly nostalgic for sixties TV.
  17. Hidde

    • Origin:

      Frisian from German

    • Meaning:

      "battle"

    • Description:

      Although it's now used mainly as an independent name in the Netherlands, Hidde began as a short form of heavy Germanic names Hildebrand and Hildebert.
  18. Sukey

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      Eighteenth-century nickname that still appears occasionally as an alternative to Suzy. Suki Waterhouse is a lovely English actress.
  19. Muffy

    • Origin:

      Nickname name

    • Description:

      Muffy is one of those nickname names that flourished in the Baby Boom era -- or was it only on television? -- and now is rarely used. Strictly speaking short for Muffin, few girls have been given Muffy as a proper name in any era, and when it was used, it was usually as a nickname for Mary or Margaret or some other traditional name.
  20. Madge

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Margery or Margaret

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband Guy Ritchie said it stood for 'Your Majesty'. Madge Undersee is Katniss's best friend in The Hunger Games books.