Hubs has a love for [name_u]California[/name_u] and decided a long time ago that if he had a girl to name her [name_u]Cali[/name_u]. I’m not thrilled about it. I like more classic names, but would be willing to have [name_u]Cali[/name_u] be a nickname. I need some name ideas that can use [name_u]Cali[/name_u] for a nickname but are more classy or formal. I’d love some suggestions!
I’ve known Callies who were Carolines. I can’t think of a name more classic or tasteful than [name_f]Caroline[/name_f].
Other options could be [name_f]Calista[/name_f] or [name_f]Calanthe[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Calanthe[/name_f]'s meaning and that it’s a type of orchid.
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is also a good option for the nickname [name_f]Calli[/name_f]/[name_f]Callie[/name_f]
[name_f]Callista[/name_f] and [name_f]Calliope[/name_f] are the only two that come to mind. I looked up girl names that contain “cal” on another site and this was the result… some of them area a little out there for me, but I’m a traditionalist.
Best of luck.
I love the name [name_f]Calla[/name_f] personally, though would not shorten it to [name_f]Callie[/name_f]. However it would definitely work. Some more thoughts to add to the others…
[name_f]Calandra[/name_f]
[name_u]Calypso[/name_u]
[name_f]Camellia[/name_f]/[name_f]Camille[/name_f]/[name_f]Clarice[/name_f]/[name_f]Clarissa[/name_f] – little more of a stretch, but definitely doable.
[name_f]Callia[/name_f]
Calila
Callina
[name_u]Pascale[/name_u] / [name_f]Pascaline[/name_f] / [name_f]Pascalie[/name_f]
[name_m]Calahan[/name_m] – Boys name though, not sure how you feel about that.
[name_f]Calida[/name_f]
You could also do a double first name, such as [name_f]Callie[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f] [name_f]Ann[/name_f] or something?
[name_f]Callista[/name_f] sound the most [name_u]California[/name_u] to me. It also means beautiful… so a double win? 
I like [name_f]Calla[/name_f] or [name_f]Callia[/name_f].
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] could work! And it makes me think of [name_u]California[/name_u] because of [name_f]Santa[/name_f] [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] Island and [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] here on Nameberry (oboeplayer1- though she’s [name_u]Tali[/name_u], not [name_u]Cali[/name_u]!) who’s from there.
You’re lucky because you have a lot of great ways to get to [name_u]Cali[/name_u]… which is very cute, btw.
I was going to say [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] at first because I love this name. Maybe it’s too much time on Namberry, but I feel like I’m hearing it an awful
lot lately. So I’m going to suggest [name_f]Calantha[/name_f] instead. It has a lovely meaning and it has a vintage charm to me. I want to sit on a porch in the south and
drink a mint julip every time I hear it
I think [name_f]Calla[/name_f] is the sweetest, nicest sounding name suggested. [name_u]Cali[/name_u] would certainly work as a nn for it, and [name_f]Calla[/name_f] is such a lovely name in its own right as well.
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
[name_f]Calista[/name_f]
That’s all I have that are pretty formal. Best of luck!