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
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
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.
Zadie Smith was named Sadie — she changed it.
I did not know that – thanks!
So I am really pining lately for a daughter called Hattie. I like Harriet and Henrietta, but I don’t adore either of them enough to actually use them. But I’d never use Hattie as a full name, so you see my dilema. I’ve considered Helena to honor my MIL whose middle name is Elaine, but I don’t think she’d think that counted. Soo, I thought, what about Lulette? She’s my great grandmother whose name I have ALWAYS wanted to use, but I don’t want a Lulu. And I figured Lulette -> Ettie -> Hettie -> Hattie…. I know, it’s a stretch. But do you think it’s too big of a stretch to use it? Maybe if I put her in hats constantly and act like that’s how the nickname came about? What do you think?
Since it is your child, you could nickname her anything really. 🙂 Lulette nn Hattie. Just be prepared to explain that her name is this, but we call her this just because. Another one I thought of was Charlotte with the nickname Hattie, but that might be too common for you to use.
Sarah
Charlotte nn Hattie is a great idea, Names4Real!
Well, Clio’s full name is Claire Caroline Wren, so I’m comfortable with a stretch. 🙂
Plus I do love the idea of honoring your great grandmother, but still giving your daughter a current, distinct name of her own. So Lulette, nn Hattie, is fine in my book.
The downsides to a stretch nickname have been minimal so far. I explained it to the daycare director and all of her forms read Claire Sandel (Clio); I’ve never heard her called anything but Clio. (Or Chloe, but that’s another story.) As an A. Abigail, I will say that it can be irritating to be referred to by my first name by my bank, insurance company, etc. I imagine Clio will have the same experience. Or not … but again, minor hassles, not real problems.
How about Hannah or Hagatha, Harlow or Hadasseh? Anything that starts with Ha- could lead to Hattie.
I think you could even go from Matilda to Hattie (Matilda -> Mattie -> Hattie), and I personally LOVE the name Matilda (but then, I also love Harriet!)
Back to the Sarah-Sadie-Sally conversation:
Personally, I like the name Sarah. I like formal names that also sound cute for little girls and sophisticated for older women, and Sarah is one of those names. But I don’t think I’d put it on the birth certificate.
I know a Sarah (it’s amazing I know only one, you’d expect to know more) and her name really works with her personality .
My cousin named her daughter Millie Claire. I think its cute on her now…but I don’t know if it will wear well on her in, say, 20 years. (She 1 and a half) I prefer formal names for the birth certificate and resume, if nothing else.
To me, names like Julie, Sophie and Lucy could stand very well on their own because they were never really nicknames to begin with. I think Sadie works fine on her own, I think of a Southern Belle, circ.1800s, and not really of a child, so it does not have that childish vibe going on in it for me, same goes with Bonnie, which I find adorable and feels she is badly neglected. I think Hattie is really cute too, but I prefer her more as a nickname for something longer.
What? No Josie? That usually ranks alone too, not that I’d use it alone.
From your list, I adore Tillie and would consider it as a nickname for Ottilie or maybe Matilda.I’ve started thinking Tilley alone, as that’s the surname I was trying to honor.
Maisie is sweet and Arlie’s got sass, but I wouldn’t use those as anything but nicknames either. Count me in the nicknames are not full names camp! 🙂
My birth name ends in -ie, and I hate it. A lot of the women in my family have names with an ‘ee’ sound at the end. It’s way too cutesy IMO. I wouldn’t give my daughter a formal name like that.
I’m seriously considering using Elsie as a middle name should I ever have another daughter in the future. It was my grandmother’s name, and so because of that, doesn’t seem like a nickname to me. However, Mark and I are trying very hard to ensure that Roseanna doesn’t become Rosie. It will probably be a losing battle, but Rosie is just way too cutsie for me (pun intended).
We have a 4 year old Rose, who doesn’t go by Rosie. 🙂 A couple of her friends have tried called her that, but she doesn’t like the nickname at all. “I’m Rose, not Rosie!” So maybe your Roseanna will be the same way.
I think Elsie is a good middle name. 🙂
Growing up, everyone in my house’s name ended with the -ee sound, so it appeals to me. I probably wouldn’t use a name that didn’t have an -ie/y nickname available. That said, I don’t think I would use any of these without a formal version. That’s why I don’t have an Alfie, I just couldn’t put it on the birth certificate and didn’t like Alfred enough.
French names, on the other hand, are a different story. Julie, Sophie and company are not nicknames. One I adore is Nixie, she’s not a nickname for anything but I don’t think I could put it on a birth certificate.
I love the name Maisie. So cute, but I don’t think I would use Maisie on her own, except I don’t love Margaret. I’ve always loved the name Matilda though, but I don’t like Matty (too many Maddie’s) and Tillie is growing on me, but I’m not there yet so I’m thinking I could call Matilda – Maisie. It’s a stretch, but I’m okay with it. 🙂
I’ve seen Matildas go by Millie, I don’t see why Maisie couldn’t work. Non intuitive nicknames can be a hassle sometimes of course but that’s the risk you take.