Formal names for Coco range from classics to literary rarities, from the names we all immediately recognize to ones that surprise and delight.
Coco might stand on its own, of course. 84 girls were named Coco in 2019 alone.
But formal names for cCoco double your options. There’s the sparky, French nickname name, but also something more.
STARTS WITH CO-
COLLEEN
Irish favorite Colleen has faded in recent years, but the sound remains.
COLETTE
Originally a feminine form of Nicholas, Colette feels tailored, French, and nickname-proof … unless, of course, you were inclined to shorten it to Coco.
COLLINS
Surname name Collins first gained attention from 2009 movie The Blind Side. (It’s the teenage daughter’s name.) Colin has become a modern staple for a son, but Collins tends to be used more for girls – opening the door for nickname Coco.
CONSTANCE
Underused virtue name Constance comes from a Latin word meaning steadfast. Retiring midcentury nickname Connie in favor of upbeat Coco might breathe new life into this name.
CONSUELO
Back in 1877, William Vanderbilt named his daughter Consuelo in honor of her half-Cuban godmother. The heiress’ marriage to the Duke of Marlborough epitomized America’s glittering Golden Age. The name originates with a Spanish title for Mary: Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, Our Lady of Consolation. Consuelo’s repeating ‘o’ makes it one of the most obvious formal names for Coco.
CONTESSA
The Italian equivalent of the title countess, Contessa is elaborate, dramatic, and easily shortened to Coco.
COPPELIA
In 1870 ballet Coppelia, this is the name of the life-size doll that sets the plot in motion. It might mean “young woman,” or it could be a diminutive, ultimately from Jacob. Either way, it’s quite rare.
CORALIE and CORALINE
All of the Cora names possess the requisite Co, but the longer ones – like Coralie and Coraline – seem mostly likely to serve as formal names for Coco.
CORAZON
Corazon is the Spanish word for heart. Like Consuelo, it comes from one of Mary’s many titles.
CORDELIA
Shakespeare gave this name to Lear’s loyal daughter. Like many a Shakespearean name, the exact origins of Cordelia are debated. The name might shorten to Cory, Cordy, Cora, Delia … or Coco.
CORETTA
Another Cora name, Coretta brings to mind the widow of Martin Luther King, also a noted civil rights activist.
CORINTHIA
A rare and elaborate name, Corinthia is ultimately derived from Corinth, the ancient Greek city-state.
CORINNA and CORINNE
More Cora names that make sense with Coco.
CORISANDE
Introduced by a medieval romance in Spain, Corisande could come from Corazon. It’s obscure, but appears in literature over the centuries.
CORLISS
Corliss means carefree. A fictional Corliss starred on radio, comic books, television, and even two movies in the middle of the twentieth century, briefly boosting the name into the US Top 1000.
CORNELIA
A name from the ancient world, Cornelia has a long history of use – and exactly the right sound to lead to nickname Coco.
COSETTE
A Les Mis possibility with the requisite sound.
COSIMA
Claudia Schiffer and Sofia Coppola both have daughters named Cosima. So does celebrity chef Nigella Lawson’s adult daughter, Cosima – though she’s known as Mimi. It’s vaguely European, cosmopolitan, and quite rare.
COURTNEY
This surname name became a 1980s and 90s chart-topper. That means it’s more likely to be the mom than the daughter. Actor Courteney Cox named her daughter Coco, inspired by a childhood nickname.
ENDS WITH -CO
AKIKO
Japanese feminine names often end with -ko, meaning child. The first part of this name might mean autumn or bright, depending on the kanji used to write it.
CALICO
First a type of cloth, and later a word to describe a type of cat’s fur, Calico is seldom heard as a given name. But it seems nicely wearable, and the -co sound is right there at the end.
JOCOSA
In Latin, jocosus means playful. It’s occasionally heard in medieval English.
KEIKO
Another Japanese name, this time meaning celebrate or respect, along with the -ko ending.
KIMIKO
One more Japanese -ko name, this one made extra wearable by similarity to former English favorite Kimberly. The first part of the name can mean beautiful or noble.
SIROCCO
The name of a warm wind, blowing from the Sahara into the Mediterranean, Sirocco is every bit as wearable as Stormy or Rain.
ROCOCO
An elaborate style of architecture or furniture, especially in 1700s Europe, Rococo isn’t often heard as a given name at all. But Coco is right there, ready for the wearing.
MIDDLE -CO- NAMES
GIOCONDA
La Giocanda serves as another name for da Vinci’s masterwork Mona Lisa. It simply means “joyful” in Italian. With Giovanna on the rise, could Gioconda wear well in the US? Gia might be the natural nickname, but there’s a definite ‘co’ sound in there, too.
JACOBA and JACOBINA
Long-time favorite Jacob never inspired a feminine spin-off, but Jacoba and Jacobina have potential. Cobie Smulders answers to Jacoba, but she could just as easily opt for Coco.
JERICHO
This Biblical place name trends masculine, but it also provides a direct route to Coco.
NICOLA and NICOLE
All of the feminine forms of Nicholas serve as formal names for Coco. Since Nikki/Nicky/Nickie seems like a mom name nowadays, Coco makes a great alternative. Nicolette
SOCORRO
Again, Socorro comes from a title of Mary. In this case, it means help or relief.
MORE FORMAL NAMES FOR COCO
CALLIOPE
A Greek name in the same style as Penelope, but not quite as popular – yet.
CAROLINE
Classic Caroline doesn’t obviously belong with formal names for Coco. But there is a strong C and o sound, too.
CHARLOTTE
Coco might be a stretch for Charlotte, but it seems like it might just work.
CATHERINE CLAIRE, OR ANY OTHER CC COMBINATION
Almost any C.C. combination – Colette Clementina. Catherine Collins. Colleen Cassidy. While we might except the initials C.C. to lead to Cece as a nickname, it’s perfectly possible to end up with Coco instead.
GABRIELLE
The given name of designer Coco Chanel.
Do you think Coco needs a formal name? What are your favorite formal names for Coco?
This post was originally published on November 17, 2011. It was substantially revised and re-posted on August 10, 2016. Further revision took place on October 28, 2020.
If my name was Constance, I would go by Connie.
I’m not a huge fan of Coco, not for any particular reason and I don’t dislike it either, but recently I’ve been swooning over Corriander, and if someone likes Coco but would prefer something more extravagant as a full name I think Corriander is a very surprising, out-of-the-box option.
That’s an amazing suggestions, eirlysgwenllian – thank you!
You forgot Courtney and Corey ….
I met the cutest little girl named Coral at Disney World who’s parents sometimes called her by the nickname Coco.
Cosima (Coco) was one of my top name picks if my child was a girl. I’m surprised it hasn’t become more popular! It’s also the name of a character on Orphan Black, although she pronounces it CoSEEma.
We have a daughter Charlotte who is seven, and her nickname is Coco…. when friends and relatives started giving her nicknames we didn’t like, such as Char and Charlie, we took matters into our own hands and gave her a child friendly nickname we did like! We think the C and O in both names links them well enough….
How about just Cora?
Coco is the nickname of our son Cove.
I love indigo with the nickname coco (from the go at the end)
A friend of mine is using Coco as a nn for her daughter, Chiara, too!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Courtney as a way to get to Coco. I know three Courtneys and they all answered to Coco at one point in their lives.
Also, who said you had to give your child a nickname based solely off their actual name? I have two great-uncles whose names aren’t related to their NNs at all. Delbert Lowell was always called Bud and Johnny Donald was always called Bill. I love it and think it’s cool.
My french friend told me that my nickname in France would most likely be Coco as most Cocos originate from Corinne (1 r 2 ns).
My little brother who is named Connor is sometimes nicknamed Coco by my aunt.
Coco’s nice, but I much prefer the longer forms to the short one. I think it could work on just about any “C” name, really.
I rather like Rococo as a wild card option.
How about Columbine as another (slightly) less individual option?
Rococo – daring! And Columbine is lovely, except I think in the US it is still linked to the tragedies in Colorado, rather than the flower.
I love Columba for a girl, since Columbine is a bit ‘attached’.
Also Comfort, Cobina/Jacobina, Collatina, Comfrey, Concordia, Contessa, Conwenna, Copia (Roman goddess of Abundance), Coppelia, Coraima, Corallina, Cordula (a Saint), Coretta, Corinthia, Corlissa, Cornflower, Coronis, Corsica, Corydalis, Corypha, Cosette, Costmary, Coventina, Giacoma, Jocosa/Giocosa, Leucothea, Leucothoe, Lycorias and Soncoya. Those are all names containing -co- on my list though, so I doubt many will find them very usable. I have a soft spot for Coppelia myself:)
I’ve always been fond of Jacoba. I don’t understand why it isn’t more popular!
I have the clown association as well. I think I’d find it hard to take seriously an adult who went by the nickname Coco.
Incidentally, model Coco Rocha’s real name is Mikhaila.
While I know several pets with the name, the only Coco I know in real life is actually named Hershel.
I adore Gigi and Mimi, but I’m unsure about Coco. On one hand, Coco seems like the obvious nickname for Collette or Colleen, but I’m hung up on the idea that Coco should be followed by “the Clown.”
My cousin Corey’s family nickname is Coco. Her niece and nephew called her Coco when they were babies learning to talk, and we all adopted it.
My name is Nicole. Most of my family calls me Nikki but my mom has always called me Coco!
I actually have a friend with a little girl, Khloey, they call her Koko for short. Could definitely apply to the Chloe’s out there as well.
Also, Cokie Roberts nn stems from Corrine, one of her many given names. If Corrine can get you Cokie, I think it could also get you to Coco.
You’re right about Chloe’s , I’ve gotten Coco before and I should’ve appreciated it but as a cereal-loving 8-year-old all I could think of was Coco the Coco Pops Monkey. 🙂
Corisande is so beautiful, but I don’t know if I would use the nn Coco.
Socorro could use Coco as a nickname.
Socorro – lovely!
I love most of these C names. I doubt I would use Coco as a nn though. (All I hear is Cocoa Puffs.)
Thursdays are starting to be my favorite day (well after Sunday) on App. Mtn. 🙂
I LOVE the name Cordelia, though I prefer the nn used by Joss Whedon on Buffy/Angel…Cordy! I think Corisande is beautiful.
I worked with a non-hispanic Consuela though surprisingly everyone called her Kiki not Coco.