What is Mimi Short For? Strong Miriam, Cool Cosima

What is Mimi short for?

It’s a sweet little nickname, one of the repeating-syllable type: Coco, Lulu, Gigi, Mimi.

The name Mimi feels a little more established than some. Maybe that’s because it’s sometimes a nickname for grandmothers.

Or maybe that’s all about the opera La bohème, which gives Mimia French origin.

It the opera, Mimi is clearly a pet name. The main character is Lucia, but she sings,  “They call me Mimi.”

Beloved musical Rent is based on the opera, and the main character is Mimi Márquez.

Traditionally, Mimi is associated with Mary names. But the list of possibilities is long, and not limited to just Mary and company.

So if you love the sound of Mimi, but want a formal name to match? Here’s the list!

WHAT IS MIMI SHORT FOR?

Like the La boheme character, Mimi is sometimes an affectionate nickname without a clear tie to a formal name – a little bit like Buddy or Sonny for a boy.

But plenty of baby girl names lead naturally to the nickname, and they’re worth considering.

There are four categories: the Mary names; names with Mi- at the beginning; names that end with a -mi sound, and names that have “mi” in the middle.

JUST MIMI

One option, of course, is to use Mimi as your daughter’s formal name. From the late 1930s through the 1960s, Mimi regularly ranked in the US Top 1000. 

The name’s popularity has faded since then, with just 16 girls receiving the name in 2023. But recent trends have favored names like Sadie over the last few decades. Mimi could fit right in.

MARY NAMES

In the Old Testament, the name is Miriam, sister of Moses. It’s Hebrew, but the meaning is debated: wished-for child, rebellion, beloved, bitter.  By the New Testament, the name is Mary. Because of the saint, her name is heard across most European languages. And becuase Mary – and related names – have been so very popular, plenty of nicknames developed.

MARIA

The romance language form of the name, Maria is preferred in Italian and Spanish, as well as German, and most Slavic and Scandinavian languages. Nicknames abound. Mia is often associated with Italy, though it’s been popular in several languages. Maja is another option.

MARIAH

A cousin to Maria, Mariah reflects an older preferred English pronunciation of the name. It brings to mind legendary singer Mariah Carey. She’s used the nickname for years, recording bestselling album The Emancipation of Mimi  in 2005. Her 2020s Las Vegas residency also features the name. 

MARIAM, MARIAMNE, MARYAM

Greek and Arabic, Mariam and Maryam are quite rare in English-speaking countries, Mariamne is the most surprising of the set. It’s associated with the ruling family of Judea in the ancient world, including several historical figures. The story of Herod the Great and his wife Mariamne inspired a tragedy by Voltaire.

MARIAN, MARION

Both of these are sometimes used as boy’s names, in other languages and times. Today Marian and Marion are likely to be girl’s names, with an old school vibe.

MARIANA, MARIANNA, MARIANNE

Elaborate and romantic, it’s easy to imagine Mariana shortening to Mimi.

MARIE

Long overlooked as a middle name, Marie can be a classic first name choice with plenty of history and charm. Because Marie is sweetly French, Mimi feels like a logical nickname.

MARY

Once the most popular name for girls in the US, Mary has fallen in use dramatically. Nickname Molly even outranked Mary circa 2010. Today it’s downright surprising to meet a little Mary, though plenty of grown women still answer to the name.

MIRIAM

The repeating M sounds make Miriam the most obvious formal name for Mimi. Actress Mimi Rogers was a Miriam. Though the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Miriam preferred Midge. An early 2000s Canadian animated series titled “What About Mimi?” was another Miriam/Mimi match. Ask “what is Mimi short for” and there’s a good chance this will be your answer.

NAMES STARTING WITH MI

MICAELA, MICHAELA, MICHELLE

All of the feminine forms of Michael could potentially shorten to Mimi.

MIRANDA

It could shorten to Mira or Randie, but Mimi seems like a sparky choice to pair with this Shakespearean favorite.

MIMOSA

Long before the champagne cocktail on brunch menus everywhere, mimosa was a flower.

NAMES ENDING WITH MI

Worth noting: a long list of Japanese names end with this sound, and Mimi is also used as an independent name in Japan. 

AIMEE, AMY

​The idea of giving a three-letter name a four-letter nickname isn’t intuitive. But linking Mimi to the French Aimee? That seems like a viable option.

LAKSHMI

From the Hindu goddess associated with prosperity, the name was made famous in the US by television host Padma Lakshmi.

NAOMI, NOEMI, NOEMIE

Biblical Naomi shortens to Mimi as easily as Miriam does. French and Italian forms of the name, Noemi and Noemie, work equally well.

MORE OPTIONS

AMELIA

​A vintage favorite with a surprising number of nicknames, including Mimi.

COSIMA

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has a daughter named Cosima, called Mimi for short.

DEMETRIA

The sound is right, but Americans probably think of Demi as the logical nickname. Spell it Dimitra, in Greek, and the link is more obvious.

DOMINICA

A feminine form of Dominic, with the right letters in the middle.

EMILIA, EMILIA, EMMELINE

If Amelia can lead to Mimi, then surely Emilia works just as well.

IMOGEN

​Immy? Gen? They work just fine, but maybe Mimi does, too.

MADELINE

So many Madeline spellings, combined with the long popularity of Madison, mean that Maddie is everywhere. Mimi seems like a distinctive and different choice to pair with this classic name.

MARGARET

Speaking of classics, Margaret shortens to dozens of nicknames. Why not Mimi?

MATILDA

Mattie, Millie, and Tilly might seem more obvious, but Mimi might work, too.

So what is Mimi short for? Do you have a favorite?

First published on January 31, 2014, this post was revised on January 9, 2025.