Josephine nicknamesFirst things first: Josephine nicknames aren’t required.

Josephine works well in full, a lovely classic name that’s just plain fun to say.

But nicknames can add some versatility, helping your daughter transform her name to better fit her personality. They can help transition from childhood to adult.

And if you happen to be one of two or more Josephines? These nicknames might take you back to being the only one with your name again.

That’s the strength of a longer, classic name. Creative nickname options help tailor-make a name.

Possibilities abound. From the obvious to the well-why-not, let’s look at the best of the Josephine nicknames.

JOSEPHINE NICKNAMES

FIFI

Some of the most interesting Josephine nicknames come from the F sound in the name’s final syllable. If Fee can be short for Fiona, surely Fifi works for Josephine? And it’s a very French nickname, mais oui!

FINA, PHINA

If Fifi is French, Fina feels more Spanish. That’s because Josephine becomes Josefina in Spanish – but also in Swedish. Slavic languages often use Jozefina. There’s no reason Fina – or Phina – couldn’t work for Josephine, too.

FINN

Love the idea of a boyish nickname in the key of Joey, but want something a little more modern? In many ways, Finn is the modern answer to Jo. Finn might feel like a stretch from Josephine, but the sounds are all but there.

INA

While it stands on its own – think Ina Garten – it also works for any name ending with -ina or -ine.

JO

Little Women makes Jo a literary and beloved choice for shortening Josephine.

JODI , JODIE, JODY

Originally a masculine nickname for Joseph, Jodie – pick your spelling – has long been a unisex option. It’s a little bit of a 1970s throwback.

JOEY

We all know Alexandra called Alex and Charlotte called Charlie, so Josephine called Joey seems logical, too. If you grew up with Dawson’s Creek, you’ll remember the show’s Joey – Josephine Lillian Potter, played by a young Katie Holmes.

JOJO

Dancer-turned-YouTube star JoJo Siwa was born Joelle Joanie, but Jojo works for Josephine, too.

JOSETTE

American parents likely see this as a separate name, but in French, Josette is short for Josephine.

JOSS

Take the Jos from Josephine, change the o-like-go to an o-like-moss, and you have one of those great unexpected Josephine nicknames.

POSIE, POSY, POSEY, POESY

Poetic and pan-botanical Posy seems like a stretch from Josephine. But consider Pepe, the well-known diminutive for the Spanish form of the name, José. In Italian, Josephine becomes Giuseppina. Take the Jos, swap the ‘J’ for a ‘P’ and there you have it.

As for the spellings, a posy is a small bouquet of flowers, or a sentimental line of verse. Poesy also refers to poetry. The most popular spelling of them all? Posie.

SEPHIE

Stephanie shortens to Steffie. So why not Josephine called Sephie? The sound makes sense.

SOPHIE

An independent name, Sophie isn’t usually connected to Josephine. But the sounds are all htere.

SOSIE

Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon gave this name to their daughter way back in 1992. But what does Sosie mean, and where did it come from? It’s unclear, but Sosie might be short for any of the Susan names, or maybe Sophia. But it also qualifies as one of the unexpected Josephine nicknames.

What’s your favorite of the Josephine nicknames? Are there others I missed?

First published on July 20, 2016, this post was revised on May 11, 2020 and again on September 9, 2021.

Josephine nicknames Josephine nicknames

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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7 Comments

  1. I adore Fifi! Josephine is a great and elegant name on its own but I like how many of its nicknames are so playful. Fifi is my favourite, but Sosie and Fina are lovely too, and Finn is an interesting idea.

  2. I had a Tante Phine, but of course, everyone else just called her Phine. 🙂 It’s one of the first nicknames I think of for Joséphine, but maybe it’s just a French thing.

  3. I’ve seen Sosanna, which is allegedly an Irish form of Susannah, and I always wondered if that’s where Kevin and Kyra got Sosie (which I’ve loved ever since they named her, and Sosie Ruth is the sweetest combo!).

  4. I remember reading (maybe here!) about how the twins names in Fangirl were inspired by Rainbow Rowell’s great grandmother, who had surprise twins, and split the name she had picked out into Josie and Fina.