The Best Vintage Nickname Names for Girls

Nicknames for girls fall into a few categories.

First are pet names – hypocoristics, to use a fancy word for funny nicknames. Think Pumpkin and Cutie Pie, Sweet Pea and Baby Doll.

But many of us think of something very different when we hear “nicknames for girls.” We think of old-fashioned choices. Sparky and retro, or pretty, even dainty, these might be chosen as a child’s full name. Or they could be the short form for a longer, more formal choice.

There are plenty of good reasons to embrace nickname-rich names … and just as many to skip the formal name and go right to the nickname.

Either way, these old fashioned nicknames for girls could be the perfect choices for a twenty-first century daughter. 

It’s worth noting that some of these aren’t nicknames for girls at all, at least not in other languages. Names like Sylvie, Julie, and Sophie are complete, while the French nicknames would be something like Sylvette or Juliette.

If you love Sadie and Hattie, Millie and Lulu, this list is packed with the best nicknames for your daughter.

BORROWED FROM THE BOYS

BOBBIE

Once a fresh favorite for girls, Bobbie isn’t miles away from Abby.

BILLIE

Willa and Willow seem more fashionable, but Billie offers a retro cool that makes it wearable – and rare.

CHARLIE, CHARLI, CHARLEY, CHARLEIGH

A true unisex choices, sometimes short for Charles or Charlotte, but often given independently.

FRANKIE

Amanda Peet used it for a girl; so did Drew Barrymore. A former Top 1000 staple, lately Frankie is rising in use again.

FREDDIE

Frederick and Frederica are underused classics, worthy of a comeback. Should that happen, Freddie might be the next Charlie.

GEORGIE

Lynn Redgrave starred in Georgy Girl in 1966. The character’s full name? Georgina. We’re wild about Georgia now, making Georgie an obvious choice.

JACKIE

Jacqueline’s heyday was in the 1960s, but Jack has been even more popular now.

JAMIE

Style-wise, Jamie fits. Except that, like Jackie, it was big a generation or two ago.

JENNIE, JENNY

Once associated with Jane, Jenny has long been the go-to nickname for 1970s sensation Jennifer.

JESSIE

Old Testament name Jesse means gift. Jessie is a little different, typically short for Jessica.

JOHNNIE

Musician Melissa Ethridge named daughter Johnnie Rose after her father, John. Sure, there’s Jane and Joanna, but maybe Johnnie is worth considering to honor a John, too.

MAX, MAXIE

Maxine is a retro name on the rise, with a promise that we’ll hear more of Max for our daughters – and maybe even Maxie, too.

REMI, REMY

Strictly speaking, this is a French given name from the Latin Remigius. But we tend to hear it as short for Remington, which makes it an easy fit for this list.

RORY

An Irish given name, this time meaning “red king.” But Rory can be short for so many classic feminine names, from Aurora to Caroline and Marjorie, too.

SCOTTIE

A sweet way to honor a Scott.

STEVIE

Possibly short for Stephanie, or maybe a nod to legendary singer Stevie Nicks.

CLASSIC & POPULAR NICKNAMES FOR GIRLS

CALLIE

Callie updates Kaylee and Kelly nicely, while still feeling traditional-ish.

CARRIE

From Theodore Dreiser to Stephen King, authors have given us plenty of fictional Carries. So are real-life ones, like the late, great Carrie Fisher.

CECE, CECI

It might be a nickname for lots of possibilities, but the rise of Cecilia means that’s the most likely formal name attached to Cece.

DAISY

A floral favorite that’s often associated with Margaret.

ELLIE

Ellie can serve as a short form of many a name, but today it’s very popular on its own, too.

ELSIE

Reality star-turned-designer Lauren Conrad embraced this as a nickname through her initials – L.C. – but it’s originally short for Elisabeth/Elizabeth. (Or Elise or another related name.) Zooey Deschanel chose it for daughter Elsie Otter in 2015.

EVIE

Eve names are plentiful. Evie is a go-to choice in England, where nicknames for girls are even popular than they are in the US.

GRACIE

Grace reads virtuous and elegant, while Gracie seems more casual and approachable.

HALLIE

Once a nickname for Harriet, today Hallie bridges those old-school names and favorites like Hailey.

HATTIE

You might put Harriet or Henrietta on the birth certificate, but Hattie is far more popular than either.

JANIE

This nickname feels a little more mischievous than buttoned-up Jane.

JEANNIE, GENIE

Jeanne is a feminine form of John; Genie comes from Eugenia. Both sound incredibly retro, sparky, and surprising today.

JOSIE

We love Josephine, and this is the go-to short form.

JUNIE

Summery June or nature name Juniper could easily reduce to Junie. Make it June Bug and it’s a beetle, but still a sweet name.

KATE, KATIE

No list of nicknames for girls could be complete without Katie and Kate. It’s the feminine equivalent of Jack, a timeless choice.

LIBBY

Short for Elizabeth.  

LILY, LILLY, LILLIE

We tend to think of Lily as a floral favorite, and it is. But it originally started out as a nickname for Elizabeth. Lillie was the most popular spelling once upon a time. Today we might use Lillian as the longer form, but vintage, romantic Lily still fits on any list of nicknames for girls.

LIZ, LIZZIE

Another Elizabeth short form.

LOLA

Serious, sorrowful Dolores can be shortened to playful, fun Lola. But so can lots of longer names.

MAGGIE

Many a Maggie is a Margaret, including the late Dame Maggie Smith. The English actress makes the case for using just Maggie, as many parents have already done.

MAISIE

Once short for Margaret, Maisie now feels like a spirited stand-alone choice.

MILLIE

Thoroughly modern Millie makes a sparky nickname for the super-sweet Millicent or former favorite Mildred. But at the moment, it’s just Millie that’s climbing the popularity charts.

MOLLIE, MOLLY

Molly evolved as a nickname for Mary, back in medieval England. It probably started out as Malle. Today it reads more like an independent name, but still fits on this list.

ROSIE

Another name in the key of Janie and Gracie, Rosie feels casual and cozy.

RUTHIE

Ruth is a scholar, a serious and storied name. Ruthie transforms the name to something different, a cowboy-boot-wearing girl with a daring spirit.

SADIE

An old school nickname for Sarah, made famous by reality television’s Duck Dynasty family, and now a 21st century staple and leader of the old-fashioned nicknames for girls trend.

SOPHIE

Sophia’s French cousin, timeless and sweet.

TESS, TESSIE

If you’re a huge Boston Red Sox fan, then you know the Dropkick Murphys “Tessie.” It’s the latest version of a 1902 song, long associated with the baseball team. It might also bring to mind the Spanish tesoro, meaning treasure.

TRIXIE

Vintage take on Beatrice and Beatrix.

WENDY

Possibly derived from Gwendolyn, though JM Barrie probably coined it from a baby talk way of pronouncing friend: fwendy.

WINNIE

More popular than Winifred, this is one of the retro names rising following the popularity of Sadie and Millie.

UP AND COMING NICKNAMES FOR GIRLS

BETTIE, BETTY

Another overlooked Elizabeth shortie, with a handful of high profile uses.

BIRDIE

Busy Phillips bestowed this avian appellation on her daughter in 2008; Jessica Simpson did the same in 2019. While there are more subtle ways to evoke the finely feathered, Birdie feels more wearable than ever before.

BONNIE

The little girl who inherited all of Andy’s beloved friends in the Toy Story series might encourage parents to consider this pretty name.

COCO

Vaguely French, and boosted by our love of O-ending names for girls.

DULCE, DULCIE

This name is sweet – literally, from the Latin dulcis. Longer form Dulcinea conjures up Toad the Wet Sprocket and Don Quixote – though the literary Dulcinea was actually named Aldonza.

EDIE

Keira Knightley gave the name to her daughter, a sweet nickname name with style to spare and many formal name options.

EFFIE

The Hunger Games raised the profile of this name, traditionally short for Euphemia. Effie Trinket is back in Sunrise of the Reaping, so possibly it will catch on in the US. In the UK, it’s considered a traditional Scottish name, and far more popular. 

FRANNIE, FRANNY

A more feminine alternative to Frankie, associated with Francesca and especially Frances.

KAT, KIT, KITTY

They bring to mind a kitten, but also classic Katherine.

LOTTIE

Top Ten Charlotte can shorten to this sweet name.

LULU

Vintage and high energy, with many possible longer forms.

SYLVIE

This French form of Sylvia is an Appellation Mountain reader favorite.

FORMER FAVORITES

BEBE

It sounds sort of 1960s, but could still wear well today.

BESS, BESSIE

There’s something about Bessie that screams antique. And yet, Tess names are having a good moment, so maybe it’s time for Bess and company, too?

CANDY

Sometimes associated with New Testament name Candace, but also with all things sweet.

DEDE, DIDI

Like Bebe, a vintage nickname name based on initials.

DODIE

Old school Dorothy short form.

DOLLY

Like Dodie, Dolly comes from Dorothy. But with the legendary Dolly Parton, this name has a different energy, too.

DORY

Another nickname for Dorothy, Dorothea, Theodora, and more, strongly associated with an animated blue fish, thanks to Disney.

DOT, DOTTIE

Dot is darling, and Dottie brings to mind Hattie.

DOVIE

It appeared in the US Top 1000 a century ago. If Birdie works, maybe Dovie does, too.

ESSIE

Short for names like Esther and Estelle, and boosted by Australian actress Essie Davis.

FLORRIE, FLOSSIE

The Italian city of Florence has a long history as a given name, and these throwback diminutives fit right in with Sadie and company.

GIGI 

There’s something French and fancy about Gigi, but it could be short for anything from Genevieve to Georgia to Virginia and more.

GINGER

Other spices are sometimes heard as girl names, from traditional Rosemary to the more modern Saffron. Ginger mixes a little bit of both. It’s all the 90s excess of Ginger Spice combined with the glam of Hollywood’s Ginger Rogers. It makes this list because it was traditionally considered a nickname for Virginia.

HETTIE

An uncommon alternative to Hattie. It might be short for Hester or Hestia, too.

HILDIE, HILDY

The Germanic element hild means battle. It appears in names like Matilda and Hildegarde. Somehow Hildy seems like a just-antique-enough name to sound interesting today.

KETTIE, KETTY

Another take on Katherine nickname Kitty.

MADGE, MIDGE

Old school nicknames for all the classic Ms: Margaret, Miriam, and company.

MARGIE, MARJ

In medieval English, nearly every old school Latin name transformed to a Y ending. Cecilia became Cecily, Maria evolved to Mary, and Margaret? Margery. Thanks to the herb marjoram, the spelling eventually shifted to Marjorie. Which explains this nickname. Either Margie with a soft G or Marj with a J works perfectly well.

MIMI

Yet another versatile M nickname name, associated with Marie and company. It feels vaguely French. Opera fans might know that Mimi’s full name in La bohèmeis Lucia.

MINNIE

Yes, there’s the mouse. But there’s also the actress – born Amelia Fiona Driver.

NAN, NANCY

An old school nickname for Ann and other Ann names, Nancy now stands on its own, while Nan is mostly overlooked.

NELLIE

An older generation thinks of Little House on the Prairie’s mean girl extraordinaire, Nellie Olsen. But Nellie can be short for lots of gorgeous names, and might work independently, too. Nella is another option in the Ella-Stella-Bella line.

PEGGY

Another old school Margaret option with a lot of freckle-faced charm – and the backbone of Mad Men’s Peggy Olson, too.

PENNY

Top 100 favorite Penelope can shorten to Penny – or lots of other names, too! But it also has potential on its own. Disney fans might think of Penny from The Rescuers.

PIXIE

Elfin possibility.

POLLY

Molly comes from Mary. And Polly? Polly comes from Mary via Molly. It’s an old school nursery rhyme name, but it feels every bit as wearable as Poppy and Millie now.

POSIE, POSEY, POSY

Floral(ish), literary-adjacent Posie – pick your spelling – is rare, but feels quite current.

ROMY

A contracted form of Rosemary or Rosemarie, Romy might bring to mind famous actress Romy Schneider from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. The Prix Romy Schneider is awarded annually to a promising young French actress by

SALLIE, SALLY

Often spelled Sally, the -ie ending has just as much history. Like Sadie, it’s originally a short form of Sarah. Also noteworthy: just like Mary became Molly, Sarah’s R transformed to an L sound, too.

SUSIE, SUZIE, ZUZU

Also spelled Suzy and lots of other ways, Susie takes midcentury Susan and makes it even more throwback. Zuzu is the Susan-nickname used for the youngest daughter in It’s a Wonderful Life. 

TILLIE, TILLY

Sometimes short for stylish Matilda, Tillie sounds awfully sweet. But if Molly and Millie work, Tillie can, too.

TRUDIE, TRUDY

If Sadie and other old fashioned nickname names for girls are back, why not Trudie? It’s spunky, retro, and strong.

QUEENIE

It implies someone of regal bearing – a princess or even an empress, perhaps. But it’s an accessible choice in the key of Birdie and Quinn.

SUPER CUTE NICKNAMES

BABE

Babe feels more like a term of endearment than a given name. Any Dirty Dancing fan will tell you that Baby? Her real name was Frances. But it’s also sometimes short for Barbara … or another name. Babe Didrikson won Olympic gold in track and field before becoming a successful golfer, as well as a founding member and early star on the LPGA tour. Her given name? Mildred.

BARBIE

A Barbara nickname that’s now deadly-wedding to the doll and the blockbuster Margot Robbie movie.

BUFFY

Probably an old school nickname for Elizabeth, associated with folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie and pop culture powerhouse Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

BUNNY

Yes to Birdie, but somehow Bunny veers even farther into too-cute nickname territory.

COOKIE

Cookie suggests two things. Baked goods, like cakes and cupcakes. But it’s also the baby girl equivalent of Buddy, a universal go-to name. One high profile use: Mrs. Magic Johnson is called Cookie. (Though her birth name is Earlitha and his is Earvin.)

DARLING

A sweet surname name that means dear or beloved, and brings to mind the family in Peter Pan. It’s also sometimes heard as a first name.

HONEY

A nature name that’s mainstream in the UK, rising in the US.

MUFFY

Rhymes with Buffy, brings to mind a muffin, and has a reputation as a posh, preppy nickname for girls with names like Margaret Cabot Saltonstall.

SUNNY

It might be short for Sunshine, which feels quite casual, too. But in our age of nature names and favorites like Sadie, Sunny might be headed for the mainstream.

SWEETIE

A term of endearment that’s already short for another term of endearment – sweetheart.

RARITIES

ARLIE

A nineteenth century opera gave the name Arline. Today, though? Arlene is somebody’s granny. Arlie shares sounds, but has lots of other possible origins and meanings, too.

CARO

An obvious possibility for Caroline and Carolina, Caro also appears on lists of Italian nicknames. That’s because of phrases like cara mia – my dear – and cuore mio – my heart.

DESSIE

A masculine nickname for Desmond in Ireland, or a Bessie/Jessie spin-off elsewhere.

DIXIE

The middle X is stylish, and this name means ten. But it’s also tied to the Old South in ways that feel potentially problematic.

ICIE

A name that once charted in the US Top 1000, a century or so ago. Perfect for our Frozen era?

LETTIE, LETTY

Formal name options include the salad-esque Lettice, or the lacy Letitia. Fast and the Furious character Letty Ortiz puts a different spin on the name.

LIDDY

As in former US Senator Liddy Dole, born Elizabeth, famous as the wife of the late Bob Dole.

LINDIE, LINDY

Lucky Lindy was aviator Charles Lindbergh’s nickname. Swing-era dance craze the Lindy Hop was named in his honor. Linda is a Baby Boomer, and elaborations like Melinda and Belinda don’t feel especially current, either. But Lindie might work as a nickname for nature name Linden, the elegant Rosalind – or on its own.

LULI

Spanish nicknames like Luli often come from Marian names – think Maria Lourdes. Though Luli might be short for Lucia or other Lu- names, too.

MAMIE

Associated with classics like Mary and Margaret, as well as former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower – and yes, it was her birth name. If Maisie is an option, maybe Mamie is, too? Meryl Streep’s daughter Mary Willa Gummer is known as Mamie, an actress in her own right.

SOSIE

Possibly short for several formal names, and quite rare.

ZADIE

If Sadie works, why not this zippy cousin? The z-to-s switch has worked out just fine for novelist Zadie Smith.

ZAZIE

An Isabelle and Frances nickname, popularized by actor Zazie Beetz.

ZELIE

There have definitely been women named Zelie. And while the exact origins are debated, the recent canonization of Saint Zelie Martin might raise the profile of this stylish name.

What are your favorite nicknames for girls that can be used as full names?

First published on November 21, 2009, this post was revised and re-posted on June 2, 2014; July 1, 2019; November 20, 2020; and April 30, 2025.