My Husband’s baby brother who lives abroad has just announced his engagement to his beloved [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. Due to them living so far away, I have only ever heard her called by her full name by my in-laws and my Husband. It is quite an unusual name, not easily pronounced, so she goes by [name_f]Annie[/name_f] back home. After the wedding, they plan to move here, close to his family. Since the engagement was announced it has been [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f]. I am just gutted. I am due late [name_u]August[/name_u] with a little one, gender unknown, but [name_f]Annie[/name_f] has been my top girls name for years, nothing has ever come close. I had even named my dolls [name_f]Annie[/name_f] when I was a little one! Orphan [name_f]Annie[/name_f] captivated me first, then it was [name_f]Annie[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] in The Parent Trap, then [name_f]Annie[/name_f] [name_m]Banks[/name_m] in Father of the [name_f]Bride[/name_f]! I really love [name_f]Annie[/name_f]'s charming vibe, timeless but fun, young but wearable throughout adulthood and beyond, too.
Please can you possibly suggest names similar to [name_f]Annie[/name_f].
Girl, I feel your pain. My all time favorite name is [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. It was always my plan to use it for my little girl. The one thing I didn’t factor into that equation was a husband with an opinion. He would not agree to [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. I used it as a middle name. I’m still a little sad I didn’t get to use it, but I found another perfect name for my little girl. I would give it a few days and start looking for another name.
I have always loved the name [name_f]Samantha[/name_f] and My brother in law’s wife is [name_f]Samantha[/name_f]. She goes by [name_u]Sam[/name_u]. If we had a little girl and called it [name_f]Samantha[/name_f], I’m sure she wouldnt mind. And if I had a niece with my name on my husbands side of the family I would think it was cool. What if you had had your baby and called her [name_f]Annie[/name_f] before your brother in-law met his ‘[name_f]Annie[/name_f]’? It wouldnt matter, he would still marry her.
Here are some other ideas that hopefully will inspire you and you find a name you love just the same.
Thank you for sharing your list, kirby2015! I think vintage nicknames are what I’m after!.. Is [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] usable, it’s fab! I love [name_f]Ibby[/name_f] and [name_f]Belle[/name_f]… [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], too! Many thanks
@boyandgirl, ah I’m so sorry! It’s such a crappy thing! My husband on the other hand listened to me go on and on about [name_f]Annie[/name_f], at no time did he think to mention other [name_f]Annie[/name_f]!
I do think [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] is charming and very usable, though I’d probably go with [name_f]Susan[/name_f] or [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] on her birth certificate. It’s one of my favorite vintage nicknames, thanks to “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
Any chance you could talk to this girl, tell her how much you’ve always loved the name, tell her about the dolls, and that you’d love to use the name if she’s okay with it then see what she says. Worst case scenario you are in the same circumstance you’re in now, but she may surprise you. My good friend’s daughter went by a name I adored. I had a similar talk with her and she said it’d be an honour and I was able to use it.
@titus245mama ah! I knew [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] rang a bell, isn’t that the cutest film?!.. Now I love [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] even more, ha thanks so much for reminding me!
You’re welcome! I was also a huge “[name_f]Annie[/name_f]” fan as a child. A couple of the other orphans’ names from the film are quite usable–[name_f]Tessie[/name_f] and [name_f]Molly[/name_f] come to mind. HTH!
@amy1512 you’re so right! It’s just I always thought, if we had an [name_f]Annie[/name_f], she would just be “[name_f]Annie[/name_f]”, not “so-and-so’s [name_f]Annie[/name_f]” or “little [name_f]Annie[/name_f].” Eek, do I sound really silly! [name_f]Samantha[/name_f] is a stunning name amy! Thank you so very much for all your suggestions, too! I love [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] and [name_f]Mary[/name_f] the most! X
[name_m]How[/name_m] about using a longer version of [name_f]Annie[/name_f], like [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Annabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Marianne[/name_f]? It isn’t the same but it may be a way to keep your favourite name!
There are other charming yet down -to-earth names that might capture [name_f]Annie[/name_f]'s spirit. Kudos to you for being so open to trying to find one!
The first thought I had was [name_f]Nell[/name_f] or [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]. Adorable and never got too popular
What about [name_f]Mamie[/name_f]? I love it. Could be short for [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. A bit more mainstream : [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
I think someone mentioned [name_f]Tess[/name_f] or [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] or even [name_f]Tessie[/name_f]?
[name_f]Libby[/name_f] might be one to consider if you like [name_f]Ibby[/name_f]
Or what about [name_f]Franny[/name_f]? So sweet and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is becoming very stylish
Another personal favorite : [name_f]Bea[/name_f]. Or even [name_f]Bee[/name_f]. Might be short for any B name
Or stand on its own
We will help you find a name you’re as happy with as [name_f]Annie[/name_f], and maybe happier!
[name_f]Lottie[/name_f], short for [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]/[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f]
[name_f]Lettie[/name_f]/[name_f]Letty[/name_f], short for [name_f]Letitia[/name_f]
[name_f]Polly[/name_f], short for [name_f]Polina[/name_f]
@lovebeingamom, thank you so much for your reply! It’s so great how your friend said it would be an honour to use the name! I might try to suss bil’s [name_f]Annie[/name_f] out, see if she wouldn’t mind! Thanks again
[name_f]Pam[/name_f], thank you so much for your help! I love so many of the names you suggested!.. [name_f]Mary[/name_f] with the nn [name_f]Mamie[/name_f] is just fab, I absolutely love it! I really like [name_f]Nellie[/name_f], do you think it could it be a nn for [name_f]Ellen[/name_f]? I love [name_f]Tessie[/name_f], it’s so beautiful, and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is just lovely! Many thanks for all of your help, I greatly appreciate it!
I would give your baby girl a different first name from your future sister-in-law but still use [name_f]Annie[/name_f] as a nickname. You could talk to her about it and I have a feeling that she would love the idea. My suggestions…
[name_f]Nell[/name_f]/[name_f]Nellie[/name_f] definitely works as a nickname for [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] - it’s a very traditional way to get there.
[name_f]Mamie[/name_f] is very sweet, and I also love [name_f]Ibby[/name_f], [name_f]Nina[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] nn [name_u]Frannie[/name_u] or [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] for you.
Other spunky nickname-as-first-name ideas:
[name_f]Dot[/name_f] or [name_f]Dottie[/name_f]
[name_u]Bobbie[/name_u]
[name_f]Gretchen[/name_f]
[name_f]Mimi[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Hettie[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f] or [name_f]Dora[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwen[/name_f]
[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Bonnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Pippa[/name_f]
[name_f]Kitty[/name_f]
[name_f]Cece[/name_f]
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]
I do like the name Ginty, the little girl in the film “Saving Mr. [name_m]Banks[/name_m].” It was the childhood nickname of [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] [name_m]Travers[/name_m] (born [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_m]Lyndon[/name_m] Goff, in Australia), author of “[name_f]Mary[/name_f] Poppins.”