Looking for unexpected Victoria nicknames? This list is for you!
Regal and elaborate, Victoria entered the US Top 100 way back in 1967. It’s ranked in the Top 100 every year since then, with the exception of 1977 – 1980, when it sat just outside. Victoria brings to mind so many associations, from the long-reigning Queen of England to Captain Steubing’s perky daughter on late 1970s television hit The Love Boat to the vampire baddie in Twilight.
It’s a name equally likely to belong to mother and daughter, and one that could easily go back many generations more.
The default nickname tends to be Vicky. Or Vicki – choose your spelling.
But unexpected Victoria nicknames abound, and could update this classic in surprising ways.
PLUM
British writer Plum Sykes answers to this unusual nickname for Victoria. It comes from a type of English plum, named for the queen – which takes this one full circle. Plum can mean something desirable or highly valued, too, which puts this name almost in the modern virtue names category. As an independent given name, Plum feels exceedingly rare, which makes it ideal for unexpected Victoria nicknames.
QUEENIE
Here’s another English monarch-inspired choice: Queenie. If you were born during the long reign of Queen Victoria and shared her name, this probably made a logical short form. All these years later – and in the US, of course – the connection might feel far less obvious. And yet, I think most people would get the association once it was explained.
RIA
There’s Mia and Leah, so why not Ria? Sure, the mythological name is Rhea, and that’s the spelling favored by actor Perlman, too. But Ria comes from the end of Victoria, an obvious option for someone after unexpected Victoria nicknames that feel brief and modern.
RORY
Boyish and upbeat, Rory works with a long list of classic girl names. Among them? Victoria, of course! With a strong -or sound, Rory feels like a natural choice for a Victoria after something breezy and truly unexpected.
TORI
For years, I envied a girl named Victoria and nicknamed Tori. Learning her name delighted me: you mean nicknames can come from the middle of names, too? And so, Tori appears on this list, even though it’s not necessarily among the most unexpected Victoria nicknames anymore. After all, actor-turned-reality-show-darling Tori Spelling and Victorious’ Tori Vega have made it a familiar substitute for Vicky.
VEE
One of the sleekest ways to shorten a name is to reduce it to just one letter. Katherine becomes Kay, James becomes Jay, and Victoria? How ’bout just Vee? It’s a mini name that might appeal to many, and it’s easy to imagine Vee evolving naturally for a no-nonsense Victoria.
VIA
Contract the first and last two letters, and you’ll arrive at this possible Victoria short form. The downsides: Via means “by way of.” We walk to school via the path. She sent the documents via courier. And in Spanish, via actually means street. So … it’s not immediately a name. And yet, in our age of Mia – and Ria! – why not?
VICA
Most Slavic languages spell this name Viktoria, and use contracted form Vika for short. While it’s virtually unheard of in the US, it makes sense. Though given the popularity of Victoria-with-a-c, Vica might be the more obvious spelling.
VIRA
Vintage Vera has climbed the US popularity charts at a steady clip over the last decade. While there’s no link between Victoria and Vera, it’s tempting to consider Vira as another contracted form of the name. The ‘i’ spelling is used in at least some Slavic-speaking countries, and has a history of use in the US, too.
VITA
English writer Vita Sackville-West makes this one of the most appealing of the options. Yet another contracted form of Victoria, Vita also brings to mind the Latin word for life.
What’s your favorite of the unexpected Victoria nicknames? Or do you prefer this name in full?
Originally published on October 20, 2017, this post was revised and re-posted on May 14, 2020.
My name is Viktorija. Family and close friends call me Vika, my British friends call me Vicky and my American friends call me Tori. I quite like ‘Ria’.
Hey im from poland so my name is spelt wiktoria. I quite like the nickname ria 🙂
Cześć, Wiktoria! 🙂
My name is actually Victorya with a y, i know its not an common thing, and heyy I’m called Tory by my family and friends, sometimes its also Vee and Vic. This post is really interesting tho. Great job.
I’m a Victoria who goes by Rory, though my Russian friends call me Vika/Vita and my best friend (who has a cat named Rory) calls me Vi or Vivi. It’s such a versatile name!
I think Tia cpuld work as well. My favorite is Plum. 🙂
Well my name is Victoria and I go by Tori. I really enjoyed reading this because usually thinking of the name Victoria nicknames that come to mind are Tori and Vicky. I liked how you introduced the names in a new way.
I wanted to thank you for this article! I wanted to name my daughter Victoria, but the standard “Vicky” and “Tori” just weren’t my style. I absolutely fell in love with “Via.” I never would have thought of it, but it makes perfect sense pulled from the full name. It suits her absolutely perfectly, and I can’t imagine calling her anything else. You’re a name genius! <3
Thanks SO much, Clarice! Glad you found a great nickname for a gorgeous name. 🙂
I like Rory. Other ideas are Vivi, Vera and Cora.
Omg, Iris, my best friends Coffey and Doggy call me Vivi ALL THE TIME and so many people are like “Why?” Others think my name is Vivian if they don’t know me. I’m glad someone else finally gets my perspective :3
Victoria nn Toya
I adore Vita. I don’t want to use Victoria though. What else could be a way to Vita? I like Vee but many ways there.
I used to love Tori before I migrated out of the US but can’t go there now. Too political here. Fortunately I still have Tavy and Tess.
It’s funny that I was just thinking the other day that Ria would be a great for Victoria!
Queen Victoria had lots of granddaughters named Victoria.
Her daughter Victoria went by Vicky.
The granddaughters called Victoria were:
Princess Victoria of Hesse
Princess Victoria of The United Kingdom — Toria
Princess Viktoria of Prussia — Moretta
Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh — Ducky
Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein — Thora
Smart list, Abby.
This is my mom’s name! She went by Vicki (of course) and I am somewhat named after her (I’m Nicky), but I’ve always wanted to use Victoria in honor of her. I love the idea of nicknames Queenie and Rory, Vita is nice too. The rest are a little bizarre for me.
My cousin Viktoria is from Russia, and she goes by Vika. Most Victorias I know or have met go by Tori. I had never thought about Queenie as a possibility before, but I think it’s a sweet, unexpected choice.