Nicknames
You probably know a Matthew or two, and he probably is always called Matt. The same probably goes for Debra, who is usually called Debbie. Some names have pet forms (or "nicknames" as they are called today, although that term originally indicated a name based on appearance or other characteristic such as "shorty" or "scooter.") that are often used, and some have fallen into obscurity. For example, how many Rogers today are called Hodge? Some names have multiple nicknames, like Elizabeth, with Betty, Betsy, Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Libby, Lily, Liza, Eliza, Lisa, Bess, Bessie, etc. If you are looking for a name with no nickname possibilities, visit our No-Nickname Names page.
Today many children are given names that formerly were pet forms of longer names, like Jenny, Katie, or Frank. This saves them the trouble of having to correct every teacher, new employer, doctor, etc. as to what they like to be called. However, many people think that long forms of names are better in the long run, because they sound more formal and business-like. Which sounds more influential, Senator Lizzie Jackson or Senator Elizabeth Jackson? Would you rather have your appendectomy performed by Dr. Ricky Hanson, or Dr. Richard Hanson? Long forms of names also give more choices as to what a child would like to be called. I know Elizabeths who, at times, have gone by Elizabeth, Lizzie, Leeza, or Liz, depending on their mood or life situation.
Lastly, maybe you love the name Abby, but can't stand the name Abigail. Maybe you want to name your son after his grandad, Mel, but can't stand the name Melvin. Many nicknames formerly considered "Stuffy" and "old" are starting to sound fresh and new again. Here are some choices, both traditional and modern (some may be "stretching it" a bit) to get you thinking about nicknames!
Click here for Boys' Nicknames.
Nicknames for Girls
| Pet Form | Long Forms |
| Abby/Abbie | Abigail, Habiba, Abra, Arabella |
| Addie | Addison, Adele, Adelaide, Adeline, Adela, Adrianne/a |
| Aggie | Agatha, Agata, Agnessa, Agnes, Morag, Agneta, August, Augustine/a |
| Alex | Alexandria, Alexandra, Alexis, Alexia, Alexa |
| Allie/Ali | Allison, Alexandra, Alice, Alyssa, Alessia, Alessandra, Alana |
| Andi(e) | Andrea, Andromeda, Miranda, Amanda, Adeline |
| Angel | Angela, Angelina, Angelica, Angelise, Mariangeli, Angelique |
| Annie | Ann(e), Anna, Annabel, Annelise, Anneke/Anika etc. (although this is technically a nn for Anna), Annette, Anita, Ariana |
| Belle | Isabel(la), Arabella, Eliabel, Bella, Maribel, Belinda |
| Beth | Elizabeth, Lisbeth, Bethany, Bethan |
| Bette, Betty | Bernadette, Elizabeth, Elizabeta, Elspeth, Lizbet, Bethany, Bethan, Betony |
| Billie | Willa, Wilhelmina, Willamina, Willemette |
| Bobbi | Barbara, Roberta, Babette, Robin |
| Brie/Bree | Brenda, Britta, Gabrielle/a, Briana, Bria, Bridget, Bretta, Brenna, Sabrina |
| Caddie/Caddy | Caroline (traditional), Carolyn |
| Callie | Calista, Calantha, Calandra, Camila, Camille, Carmel, Carmela, Caroline, Calla |
| Cammy | Carmel, Carmela, Cameron, Camila, Camille |
| Candy | Candace, Kendall |
| Carly, Carlie | Caroline, Carolyn, Clarissa |
| Carrie/Kari | Caroline, Carolyn, Karensa, Karina, Carmen, Carson |
| Casey | Cassandra, Catesby, something with the initials K.C. |
| Cassie | Cassandra, Catherine, Cassidy, Cassia, Jocasta, Carson |
| Christie/Krissi etc. | Christina, Christine, Kristin, Christiana, Crystal, Crystelle, Chrysanthemum |
| Cissy | Cecilia, Cecile, Cecily, Frances |
| Coco | Nicole, Nicolette, Colette, Cora, Colleen |
| Connie | Constance, Corinne, Concetta |
| Cori/Cory | Corinne, Corina, Coriander, Coral, Cora, Coralise, Corazón, Coralie, Cordelia, Cornelia, Coretta |
| Dani | Danielle, Daniela, Dana, Danica, Sheridan |
| Ellie/Elle/Ella | Eleanor(e), Eleanora, Elaine, Eileen, Elizabeth, Eliabel, Isabelle/a, Gabrielle/a, Giselle, Michelle, Eloise, Ellery, Noelle |
| Elsie | Elizabeth (trad), Elsa, Elspeth, Elisa, Elise, Ellison, Elysia, Eloise |
| Emmy | Emily, Emma, Emeline, Emilia, Embeth, Ember, Emerson, Emery |
| Evie | Eve, Eva, Evelyn, Eveline, Evadne, Heaven, Evyn |
| Fran/Frankie/Fanny | Frances, Francesca, Franca, Francisca |
| Ginny | Virginia, Genevieve, Ginevera |
| Gussie | August, Augusta, Augustina, Gustava |
| Hallie | Helena, Harriet, Hazel, Harmony |
| Hattie | Harriet, Henrietta |
| Hettie, Hedy | Henrietta, Heather, Hedwig, Harriet, Hester |
| Jackie | Jacqueline, Johanna, Joan |
| Jacy | Jacinta, something with the initials J.C. |
| Janie | Jane, Janet, Janette, Janine, Jayna |
| Jenny | Genevieve, Jennifer, Jane (traditionally Jenny was a nn for Jane), Ginevera, Geneva, Jensen, Genesis |
| Jeri/Geri | Geraldine, Jerrica, Jerusha |
| Jessie | Jessa, Jessica, Jessamine |
| Jo, Joey, Josie | Johanna, Joanne, Joelle, Jospehine, Josefina, Jocasta (for the daring only!), Jorinda, Jocelyn |
| Joss | Jocelyn, Josephine, Josefina |
| Kate/Katie/Cady | Catherine, Katarina, Katrina, Catesby, Katelyn, Cadence, Arcadia |
| Kaylee/Kayli etc. | Michaela/Mikayla, Kayla, Kayleen, Kayliana |
| Kelly | Kellan, Raquel, Kalani |
| Leigh/Lee/Leelee | Kimberly, Leanne, Liana, Everly, Presley, Talia, Melia, Ainsley, anything with a -lee in it! |
| Libby | Elizabeth (trad), Olivia, Liberty |
| Lily | Lilian, Liliana, Lilia, Lilibelle, Lila, Delilah, Lilith, Elizabeth (used in the 19th cen.) |
| Lola | Lorena, Dolores (trad), Lourdes, Paloma, Lois |
| Loni/Lani | Leilani, Lana, Alana |
| Lucy | Lucinda, Lucille, Lucilla, Lucia, Luz |
| Maddy/Mattie | Madeline, Madeleine, Madison, Mattea, Meredith, Matilda, Martha, Marta |
| Maggie | Margaret (traditional), Megan, Megara, Magdalen, Magdalena |
| Maisie | Mary (trad), Margaret, Mariah, Maria, Marie |
| Mamie | Mary (trad), Margaret, Mame |
| Marlie/Marley | Marilyn, Marjolein, Marielle, Mariel, Marilla |
| Marnie | Marion, Mariana, Marianne, Marina, Xiomara, Meredith |
| Marti | Martina, Martine, Marta |
| Mel | Melanie, Melania, Melora, Melody, Melinda, Carmela, Carmel |
| Micki | Michelle, Michaela/Mikayla etc., Micheline |
| Millie | Camilla, Camille, Mildred, Millicent, Melanie, Melania, Jamila, Marilla |
| Mimi | Mary (trad), Jemima, Miriam, Mireille, Mireia, Miranda |
| Minnie | Philomena, Mary (trad), Melina, Jessamin, Jasmine, Minerva, Amina, Dominica, Dominique |
| Molly | Mary (trad.), Melora, Maura, Maureen, Melia, Amalia, Amaltheia, Mallory |
| Nattie | Nadine, Natalia, Natalie, Renata |
| Nell, Nelly | Ellen (trad.), Eleanor (trad), Penelope, Eliane/a, Elisa |
| Nettie | Annette, Antoinette, Ninette, Lynnette, Anita |
| Nikki, Nicki | Nicole, Nicolette, Nicola, Veronica, Dominica, Dominique, Monica, Phoenix |
| Nina | Antonina, Angelina |
| Polly | Mary (trad.), Paula, Pauline, Paulina |
| Rae | Raelyn, Raelene, Rayanne/a, Raechelle, Rayna/Raina/Reina, Rachel, Desiree, Raven |
| Ricki | Erica, Jerica, Richelle |
| Romy | Rosemary, Rosemarie, Romana, Romera |
| Rose/Rosie | Rosalind, Rosa, Rosalie, Rosemarie, Rosemary |
| Sadie | Sarah (traditional), Mercedes, Sarai, Sarina |
| Sally | Sarah (trad), Salome, Sarina, Salena |
| Sam, Sammie | Samantha, Samara |
| Shelby | Michelle, Rachelle, Rochelle |
| Sophie | Sophia, Sophronia |
| Sukie, Zuzu | Susan (trad), Susanna, Suzanne, Suzette, Zuleika, Sureia, Surya |
| Teri | Teresa, Terena, Tersia, Tara |
| Tess(ie) | Teresa, Tessa, Thessaly, |
| Tilly | Matilda, Talia, Thalia, Taylor |
| Tina | Bettina, Christina, Martina |
| Viv | Vivian, Viviana, Aviva, Genevieve |
Click here for Boys' Nicknames