Forming Cool Girl Names from Initials: Coco, Elsie, and More

I have a soft spot for girl names from initials. Maybe it’s because my own name started out that way: Abigail came from my initials at birth, AB.

Turns out that initials sometimes offer us an Intriguing way to reinvent our names. Girl names from initials can spark up a classic first-middle pairing with a sparky nickname, or allow parents to hand down family heirlooms and create something brand new for their child, too.

Girl names from initials might be a creative way to re-invent your own name. Or to honor a loved one without handing down their name in full.

ABOUT THE MIDDLE INITIAL J

Some of the most popular initials-as-name combinations are used more often for boys, almost always with the middle initial J for James, Joseph, John, or another traditional name. But pop culture gives us girls who answer to all of those names, too. 

• There’s DJ, of course – though Full House and Fuller House gives us eldest Tanner sibling Donna Jo, known as DJ, or even Deej.
• Spider-Man fans will think of Mary Jane Watson, also known as MJ. In the latest version of the story, Zendaya plays MJ – but it’s short for Michelle Jones-Watson. 
• Actress AJ Michalka of The Goldbergs is one of several real-life AJs.
• In the early 2000s, Allison Janney rose to fame as press secretary CJ Cregg on The West Wing.  

The possibilities are endless. 

MORE CREATIVE COMBOS

For this list, let’s consider those names that might be made from initials – but are sufficiently name-like that they might appear on a birth certificate or diploma as formal names, too.

One great example? When actress Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, her best friend’s daughter served as a bridesmaid: Isabel Veronica “Ivy” Mulroney.

But that’s just the beginning! Let’s look for more great girl names from initials.

ABBY

Nine times out of ten, Abby is short for Abigail. But I started out life as Amy Beth. Not much nickname potential in seven letters, three syllables. Then I became AB, and eventually Amy Abigail, or Abby. Annabelle could lead to Abby, too, and so could lots of double names: Anna Beatrix, Alice Bellamy, Aria Bevan.

ADDIE

As with Abby, Addie could come from plenty of options. Adelaide, Addison, and Adeline are the obvious baby girl names. But Ava Diane, Amanda Danielle, and more combinations fit the trend, too.

ARI

I can imagine AR leading to Ari. A Rebecca, maybe? Or Alice Regan or Anna Reese?

But perhaps RE is even more obvious, especially with a long E sound in the middle. Rachel Eden, Remy Eleanor, and Rose Eglantine all come to mind.

BEBE

How about Beatrice Blair? Or maybe Bianca Briony? There are so many great B names for girls, and a few of them start with a strong “Be” sound, which helps reinforce the nickname.

CADY

Initial names are truly tempting when they offer a clever update to long-time favorites. A name like Catherine Diana easily becomes Cady – though Cady is pretty close to a Catherine nickname in the first place. Baby names like Caroline Delaney or Camila Dream seem like logical ways to get Cady from the initials CD, too.

CASEY, KACI, KAYCIE

Girl names from initials KC might be one of the most obvious options. Except … how do you spell it? The Disney Channel’s K.C. Undercover stuck with the initials. (We later learned that her full name was Katrina Charlotte Coretta Scott Cooper.) None of the spellings are particularly popular for girls right now, but it does seem like Kaci – or Kaycie or Kaycee, maybe? – follows more logically from the initials. 

CECE

Nearly any two C names lead to Cece. Using one soft C name helps make the nickname flow. Cecily Cate, Celia Cascata, Catherine Ciel, and Celeste Corisande could all work nicely. 

COCO

Some initial nicknames work best when it’s not just about the initials, but about the first syllables of the name. Constance Cordelia, Cora Consuelo, and Colette Coraline all lead logically to Coco because of the repeating Co letters.

EDIE

Edie could be short for so many names – Edith or Eden or Endellion, to name just a few. FIXLINK But it might also come from the initials ED. Of course, that’s the kind of combinations parents might avoid, since it’s a bit on the medical side. But combinations like Elizabeth Darcy or Ella Denver might lead to Edie, too. 

ELSIE

Reality television star turned fashion entrepreneur Lauren Conrad uses LC – pronounced almost like Elsie – for her designs. Combinations like Laura Celeste, Lilah Claire, Lena Collins, or Lark Cecily all work, too. 

But it doesn’t have to be an L first initial. Start with El, because Ella Catherine, Eloise Colette, and Ellison Cate might all work, too.

EMME, EMMY

From classic Mary Elizabeth to rarities like Maribel Estrella, ME – pronounced Emme – is a promising pair of initials. A combination like Emily Eden or Emma Elise might appeal, too. And spell it Emme, Emmy, or Emmie – it all works.

EVIE

The Pokemon character spells it Eevee, which drives the point home: lots of great E names, paired with a V middle could get to the nickname Evie.

Ella Violet pairs two very popular favorites. Others that come to mind: Eden Victoria, Eliza Veronica, and Elodie Vale.

GIGI

Double initials work really well for girls. There’s Cece and Gigi, and Bebe, Didi, Fifi, Kiki, Mimi, and Vivi all have some possibility, too.

Gigi veers close to the nickname-only category. Gorgeous combinations like Georgia Genevieve, Ginevra Grace, Gwendolen Garnet, and Gemma Guinevere all lead to Gigi.

IVY

Ivy sparked this post, of course, thanks to Isabel Veronica. Plenty of IV names come to mind. There’s Isla Victoria, or maybe Ingrid Vale.

JACI, JAYCIE

Just like AJ tends to be Andrew or Alexander James, JC is often short for something like James Christopher or similar. But there’s no shortage of JC combinations for girls, like Jessamy Claire or Julia Caitlin. A short, modern name drawn from initials like this might offer a compromise between two naming styles.

JOSIE

Likewise, Joan Caroline or Joanna Calista could shorten to Jo C – Josie. Though the need to switch from a ‘c’ to an ‘s’ might make this one feel a little more awkward than some of the other possibilities.

KATIE

KT might come from something as classic as Katherine Theresa. (And, of course, Katie comes from Katherine anyhow.) On the more daring side, there’s Kaia Therese or Kinley Tate. But somehow, I keep coming back to more classic choices to get to KT. Singer KT Tunstall was born Kate Victoria.

KIKI

Like Katie from KT, traditional KK names might be the best route to Kiki. Katherine Kendall, maybe, or Kate Kelly. But something like Kaia Kensley could work, too. 

LOLA

As with Coco, Lola requires more than just LL initials. It works best when the sounds are present, too. Lora Alice, maybe. Or Lois Landry. (Is that too close to Lois Lane? Ooh … that leads to Lola, too!)

LULA

Lula started out as a nickname for Louisa. It could be a contracted form of Luella, too. But it might also evolve from something like Lucy Elaine, Lucia Landry, or Louisa Lake.

MACY, MAISIE, MAIZY

So many names start with a strong May sound. A combination like Mabel Zara or Mae Catherine could easily lead to Macy or Maisie. Or even consider something like classic Mary Claire, with the nickname Macy.

MILLIE

So many formal names lead to Millie, but ML or even Em.L. and M.El. names can get there, too. Emerson Lily is quite pretty, or how about Mirabel Elise?

MIMI

Mimi makes for another double initial option. And there’s no shortage of MM names that would wear beautifully. Miriam Mariposa seems strongly religious; Maren Micaela leans more modern choice.

REMI, REMY

Something like Renata Mia would logically lead to Remy. A more traditional choice could work, too – think Regina Marie or Rebecca Mary.

ROMY

A traditional way to get to Romy is from Rosemary. But the possibilities abound.

Rose Mallory, Rose Marjorie, Rowan Mackenzie, or Rosalie Marie all might lead to Romy.

SADIE

Sadie emerged from the traditional Sarah, so that’s an obvious first name choice. Adding a strong D middle emphasizes the nickname: Sarah Davina, Sarah Delaney, or Sarah Darcy, maybe?

TILLIE

The initials TL – or T with an El- name – might lead to Tillie. Think of combinations like Tara Ellis and Teresa Eleanor.

VICA

Veronica and Victoria could get to Vica without a middle name. Veronica Claire makes it even clearer, or consider something like Vera Caroline or Victoria Cate.

ZOE

Something like Zora Evangeline could reduce to Zoe. Or maybe even Zenobia Elaine!

What are your favorite girl names from initials?

First published on February 18, 2019, this post was revised on November 8, 2025.