I was recently on Find a Grave trying to find family members when I decided to search some of my favorite names. As weird as it may sound, I like to do this from time to time to find middle name inspiration for some of my favorite names I’d consider as first names. I looked up the name [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] (sadly, no one in my family has/had this name) and was very surprised to find that many women who were named [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] (a fairly common name in [name_f]Louisiana[/name_f] in the 1800’s) went by [name_f]Lydia[/name_f]. The more I think about it, It does make sense to go by [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] as the two names are similar in sound. [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] AND [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] are both on my short list, so I could use [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], a very uncommon name, and call her by a more common name if I/she wanted to. Definitely something to think about…
So, my question is. What are some of your favorite girls names that have unexpected nicknames or alternative names?
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] “[name_f]Via[/name_f]”
[name_f]Elise[/name_f] “[name_u]Li[/name_u]”
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] “[name_u]Li[/name_u]”
[name_f]Vaila[/name_f] “[name_f]Via[/name_f]”
[name_f]Mairi[/name_f] “[name_f]Mae[/name_f]”
Any N name with the nickname [name_f]Nim[/name_f]
Salvadora → “[name_f]Sally[/name_f]”
[name_f]Eleanore[/name_f] → [name_f]Lea[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [extremely nickname-rich]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] → Prefer Moggy to [name_f]Immy[/name_f]
[name_u]Andrea[/name_u] → Prefer [name_f]Drea[/name_f]/Drew to [name_f]Andi[/name_f]
I think [name_u]Lynx[/name_u] could be good nn for any -lyn ending name
I like [name_u]Romy[/name_u] as a nn for the virtue name [name_f]Promise[/name_f] and I prefer it to [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] when it comes to [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f].
I like pretty much any of the girls names with “or” in them shortened to [name_u]Rory[/name_u] - for example, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], [name_f]Victoria[/name_f], etc. I also think [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] “[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]” would be adorable; really, [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] works for most “Ma-” girls names.
Also seconding @PeachesLuna about [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] “[name_f]Evie[/name_f]”!
My sister sends me the list of people honored for the one year anniversary of their passing at (virtual) Shabbat services each week for my amusement. I’m not amused that they passed away…I just love seeing all of the vintage names. So, no judgement here for searching the find a grave website!
Anyway…girl names w/unexpected nns that I like:
Antonia nn [name_f]Nonie[/name_f]
Beatrice/Beatrix/Beatriz nn [name_f]Bess[/name_f]
Bellatrix nn [name_f]Bess[/name_f]
Cornelia nn [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]
Dorothea/Dorothy nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
Esther nn [name_f]Tess[/name_f]
Pretty much any ‘G’ name nn [name_f]Gigi[/name_f].
Sorry for any repeats here but my favourites right now are:
Genevieve “[name_f]Neve[/name_f]”
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] “[name_u]Jo[/name_u]”
[name_f]Lucia[/name_f] “Cici”/“[name_f]Cece[/name_f]”
And I always wondered whether I could get away with [name_f]Carys[/name_f] nn “[name_f]Callie[/name_f]”
From personal experience, [name_u]Jo[/name_u]/JoJo/Joey as a pet name for [name_f]Chloe[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] dad and brother did this by initially calling me [name_f]Chloe[/name_f]-[name_u]Joey[/name_u], which was then shortened to Chlo-[name_u]Jo[/name_u], to just [name_u]Jo[/name_u]/JoJo.
As a teen, I was obsessed with the nickname [name_f]Dee[/name_f] for [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]. I’m also into [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] for [name_f]Francine[/name_f] instead of [name_u]Frances[/name_u]/[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] and [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] nn [name_u]Mo[/name_u].
So, no judgement here for searching the find a grave website! 
