Iāve been thinking about nicknames as full names for little girls quite a bit lately and Iād love to hear your thoughts! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like them or not? Are there some names that have nicknames you like better than the full name? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like the full name and the nickname equally? Would you give your child a nickname as a full name?
I have a very classic, feminine name. I wished it stood out a little more growing up, but I have more appreciation for it now. I like having the option to go by my nickname or my full name. However, I also think people should use names they love, and not use a formal name they may not like just because it is the general expectation. Iām going to list some of my favorites below.
Prefer the nickname to the full name:
[name_u]Frankie[/name_u] instead of [name_f]Frances[/name_f] or [name_f]Frances[/name_f] of [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_u]Josie[/name_u] instead of [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Hattie[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Delores[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], or [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] or [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]
[name_f]Molly[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] (but I still love [name_f]Mary[/name_f] because it was my grandmaās name; I just donāt see myself using Mary!)
[name_f]Evie[/name_f] instead of [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] or [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_u]Andi[/name_u] instead of [name_u]Andrea[/name_u]
Like both the nickname and the formal name:
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_u]Charlie[/name_u]
[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Kate[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] and [name_f]Gracie[/name_f]
As far as actually naming a child goes, I think it really depends on the vibe the parents are aiming for. In general, I tend to prefer giving full-sounding formal names so that the child has that option for different things in the future but can go by a shorter name if they desire.
I do not have a classic name, a very 90s/2000s name that is not short for anything but I am sometimes asked if it is. I like it, though.
I guess especially with regards to girl names I prefer having a full name to a nickname. I donāt really want to pre-pick nicknames for our children and would rather them develop organically so nickname options arenāt really as big of a deal for me.
Thereās so many Charlottes right now so I donāt really like it and I greatly dislike [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] for girls, honestly, so Iād go with [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] or [name_f]Char[/name_f] if I had to.
I would prefer to pick an uncommon part of the name that is still usable as a nickname.
A few off hand examples:
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] āFinā or āFeenyā vs. āJosieā
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] āLinnyā or āGeliā vs. āEveā or āEvaā or āEvieā
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] āRettiā or āRettaā vs. āMargā or āMaryā
[name_f]Esmerelda[/name_f] āMeraā or āMerā or āRellaā or āEzā vs. āEsmeā or āEmā
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] āNoriā or āLeaā vs. āEllieā or āEllaā
We named our daughter ājustā [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. We flirted with the idea of a more formal name for a few years before we had her, but ultimately decided that [name_f]Annie[/name_f] was the name we loved, would use daily, and wanted her to have. And she is SUCH an [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. She loves her name, and demands it be used properly instead of any other nicknames we come up with.
So, in short, I very much love nicknames as full names. Utterly charming and perfect, just as they are.
@somemelodioussonnet Thank you so much! I love that your daughter is proud of her name and wants it to be used in full. And I I love that you used a nickname name because you liked it more than any other variation.
For me itās also more about specific names than generally preferring long names or short names. [name_f]My[/name_f] all-time favorite girlsā name is [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], and Iād use that as a full name. I like the name [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] a lot too, but funnily enough donāt love [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] nicknamed [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] despite liking both names individually. I also love long names like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]. And I would certainly end up calling an [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] āLizzyā and a [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] āCallieā a decent amount. [name_f]Callie[/name_f] I would use as a full name as well, [name_f]Lizzy[/name_f] I only like as a nickname though I do think it can stand alone. I also like [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and [name_f]Molly[/name_f] as full names. So overall itās really about individual names
@cms1512 Thank you so much! Iām so glad you like your name! It can be frustrating when people think a name is short for something when itās not. Does that ever bother you? I like your idea of using a less intuitive part of a name for a nickname. Youāve come up with so many creative ones! I especially like [name_u]Nori[/name_u] and [name_f]Lea[/name_f] for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Linny[/name_f] for [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]. I do agree with you that nicknames should develop organically too. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorites develop from personality or situations rather than names themselves. I have some nicknames of each type though.
I always prefer the nicknames as full names I think itās very playful and I feel girls often get serious names more than boys (that could be where I live tho)
@EagleEyes Thank you so much! I absolutely get that and I appreciate your perspective. Itās one I hadnāt thought of. Personally, I really like the name [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f] and probably wouldnāt shorten it to anything. But I would intuitively shorten [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] to [name_f]Nora[/name_f].
@bemiranda Thank you so much! I just think nicknames as full names are so spunky for girls. I do feel like boys do get questioned as much for having or going by nicknames when theyāre older. That could just be my perspective though!
I love a lot of nicknames as full names and I would be willing to use one! Theyāre fairly familiarly used where I am - some more than others, but I think a lot of them are great!
Of your list, Iām with you on [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_u]Josie[/name_u], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] and [name_f]Greta[/name_f]
Prefer the nickname to full name:
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Libby[/name_f], [name_f]Beth[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] over [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Effie[/name_f] over [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Euphemia[/name_f]
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] over [name_f]Helen[/name_f] or [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Taisie[/name_f] over Anatasia
[name_u]Mina[/name_u], [name_f]Willa[/name_f] or [name_u]Billie[/name_u] over [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]
[name_f]Tess[/name_f] or [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] over Theresa/Teresa
[name_f]Sosie[/name_f] over Sophie/Sophia
[name_f]Katri[/name_f] or [name_u]Kitty[/name_u] over [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] (and other full variants)
[name_f]Isby[/name_f] or [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] over [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Dora[/name_f] over [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] or [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]
[name_f]Pippa[/name_f] over [name_f]Phillipa[/name_f]
[name_u]Joni[/name_u] or [name_f]Joanie[/name_f] over Joan/Josephine
[name_f]Heidi[/name_f] over [name_f]Adelheid[/name_f]
[name_f]Jilly[/name_f] over [name_f]Jillian[/name_f]
[name_u]Jess[/name_u] or [name_u]Jessie[/name_u] over [name_f]Jessica[/name_f]
[name_f]Deenie[/name_f] over Willodeen, Wilmadene, [name_f]Deanna[/name_f], [name_f]Bernadine[/name_f]
[name_f]Mitzi[/name_f] over [name_u]Maria[/name_u]
[name_f]Zadie[/name_f] over [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]
[name_f]Polly[/name_f] over [name_f]Paulina[/name_f] or [name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] over [name_u]Anne[/name_u]
[name_f]Trudie[/name_f] over [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
Like both equally
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and Fliss
[name_f]Tamar[/name_f] and [name_u]Tay[/name_u]
[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f] and [name_u]Nev[/name_u]
Cassidy/Cassia, [name_u]Cass[/name_u] and [name_f]Cassie[/name_f]
Elodie/Edith/Enid and [name_f]Edie[/name_f]
Elodie/Lois and [name_f]Lolo[/name_f]
Penelope/Eleanor and [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Lissy[/name_f] and Lois/Larissa/Felicity
Adelaide/Adele/Delilah and [name_f]Della[/name_f] and [name_u]Dell[/name_u]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and [name_f]Dora[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f] and [name_f]Cressie[/name_f]
[name_u]Indigo[/name_u] and [name_u]Indie[/name_u]
[name_u]Romilly[/name_u] and [name_u]Romy[/name_u]
[name_u]Abilene[/name_u] and [name_u]Billie[/name_u]
[name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f] and [name_u]Joss[/name_u]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Bea[/name_f] and [name_f]Trixie[/name_f]
[name_u]Florence[/name_u] and Floss/Flossie
[name_u]Delaney[/name_u] and [name_u]Laney[/name_u]
I come from the UK where nicknames as full names are very widely used, I think considerably more so than in the US - I know a billion Millies, and Evie, Elsie and Rosie are all in the top 20. Eliza, Lola and Daisy are so widely used I wouldnāt even consider them nickname names! As such, I wouldnāt raise an eyebrow at any of the names youāve suggested; I tend to prefer āfullā names as they give more options, but Kitty, Cate, Bess, Eliza and Josie are all very high up on my own list
Edit: my best friend, whom I absolutely adore, is named Gwen, so that name has a very special place in my heart too!
@Greyblue Thank you so much! I think [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_f]Maggie[/name_f], and [name_f]Molly[/name_f] are just so cute! I know my mom dislikes all of her name, but we have talked about most of these names, and she likes them. So maybe thatās part of why I like them too. I couldnāt use [name_f]Mary[/name_f] for a future child because it is just so closely associated with my grandma and it is her name to me. But I could use [name_f]Molly[/name_f] or [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] like Iāve said before. I know that technically, they are considered nicknames by many, but both names feel substantial to me! I love thinking about combinations of [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] together especially. Whether as siblings or first and middle names. [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] are so cute. I think [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] may give [name_f]Sunday[/name_f] some competition, as much as I hate to say it.
From your list, I love:
[name_u]Billie[/name_u] and [name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Edie[/name_f], and [name_f]Lolo[/name_f] or [name_f]Lo[/name_f] (I also love the idea of [name_f]Lo[/name_f] for [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] or Willow!)
[name_u]Delaney[/name_u] and [name_u]Laney[/name_u]
[name_u]Joss[/name_u] for [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f] +
[name_f]Della[/name_f] for [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] or [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
@Mary_Rose Thank you so much! I definitely think using nicknames as full names is more acceptable in the UK than it is in the US. I can definitely see myself using one in the future. [name_f]My[/name_f] family might be surprised at first because most of us have traditional, formal names, and go by nicknames if we have one. But as long as itās not too out there I think theyād be fine.
I think [name_f]Millie[/name_f] is cute and I LOVE [name_f]Evie[/name_f] and [name_f]Cate[/name_f] and [name_f]Kate[/name_f]. Iād love to meet a little just [name_f]Evie[/name_f] or [name_f]Kate[/name_f] someday!
@namenerddoglover Thatās lovely that your mom likes those nicknames - I think theyāre distinct enough from name that they feel substantial and able to be ālikedā as separate names, but tied to the fullname enough that they honour your mom?
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] are such a delightful set together - so cute and stylish!!
Ooh [name_f]Lo[/name_f] for [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and Willow!!
@Greyblue Yes, I agree! I definitely think I could honor my mom with any of those names, which is something I definitely want to do. I really want to honor my dad too, his name is just harder. I think I may use his initials as they are or flip them!
I know [name_f]Lo[/name_f] is the intuitive nickname for [name_u]Lauren[/name_u], but Iāve been loving it for [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] lately! If [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] works, why not [name_f]Lo[/name_f]?
I personally do not favor traditional nicknames as legal given names for boys or girls. I come from a family that, with the exception of an actual [name_u]Jack[/name_u], gives their children names that originated as full names as their legal given names. For example, I know someone in my family named [name_f]Barbara[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Barb[/name_f] and she really prefers [name_f]Barb[/name_f] to [name_f]Bobbi[/name_f] or [name_f]Babs[/name_f]. However, if she had been given the legal name [name_f]Bobbi[/name_f] she would have no choice but to be called [name_f]Bobbi[/name_f] as it cannot be lengthened. Thatās why I donāt favor traditional nicknames as legal given names.
@CECampbell Thank you so much! [name_f]My[/name_f] family is similar in that most of us have longer names. Some prefer to go by nicknames among the family while others donāt. I do like my name, but I always wished it stood out a little more when I was younger. I think thatās a big reason I like nicknames as full names.
I tend to strongly prefer longer full names with the option to go by something shorter.
A few exceptions of nicknames that just feel like āfullā names to me (although I still like them as nicknames for longer names):
[name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Milla[/name_f]
[name_f]Pippa[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f]
