Hip Alternative Nicknames

General Name Discussion
1

A friend and I were discussing [name]Thomas[/name] the other day. She said she loved it, but worried it was too “boring”. I suggested the Scottish diminutive “[name]Tam[/name]” as a nickname as an alternative to [name]Tom[/name] to add a bit of unique interest.

It occurred to me that there are tons of international variants of “classic” names (i.e. [name]Catherine[/name], [name]Caterina[/name], [name]Katrine[/name], [name]Ekaterina[/name] etc) and that most of these languages also have their own distinct nicknames which would make a hip alternative to the common nicknames we have in English speaking countries – either as a cool nickname for a classic ([name]Thomas[/name] nn [name]Tam[/name]) or as an alternative to the popular nicknames-as-first-names ([name]Allie[/name] > [name]Anneli[/name]).

[name]EDIT[/name]: I’ll keep editing this post to include all the suggestions given. That way they can be all together in one big post :slight_smile:

[name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Alida[/name] – Dutch
Aleit – [name]German[/name]
[name]Elke[/name] – Dutch, [name]German[/name], Frisian

[name]Alexandra[/name]
[name]Alessa[/name] – Italian
[name]Alondra[/name] – Spanish
[name]Lesya[/name] – Russian
[name]Ola[/name] – Polish
[name]Sanda[/name] – Romanian
[name]Sassa[/name] – Swedish

[name]Ann[/name]/[name]Anna[/name]
[name]Anja[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Anica[/name] – Serbian
[name]Anka[/name] – Polish
[name]Anneli[/name] – Finnish
[name]Anouk[/name] – French
Ans – Dutch
[name]Anya[/name] – Russian
Nansi-- Welsh
[name]Nita[/name] – Scandinavian

[name]Angela[/name]/[name]Angelina[/name]
An?a (an-ja) – Croation
Aniela (an-yell-a) – Polish
Anielka (an-yell-ka) – Polish

[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Kaja[/name] – Polish
Karo – Scandinavian
Liina – Finnish
[name]Line[/name]/[name]Lina[/name]-- Scandinavian

[name]Catherine[/name]
[name]Cadi[/name]-- Welsh
Cati-- Welsh
Catia – Portugese
[name]Cato[/name] – Dutch
Ine – Scandinavian
[name]Kaisa[/name] – Finnish
[name]Kajsa[/name] (ky-sa)-- Scandinavian
[name]Kari[/name]
[name]Karna[/name]
[name]Kasia[/name] (kah-sha) – Polish
[name]Katya[/name] – Russian
[name]Trine[/name]-- Scandinavian

[name]Cecilia[/name]
Cille-- Danish
Cili-- Hungarian
[name]Cilka[/name] – Slovene
[name]Silja[/name] – Finnish
Silla-- Scandinavian
[name]Zilla[/name] – [name]German[/name]

[name]Christina[/name]
[name]Kia[/name] – Swedish
Kikki-- Scandinavian
[name]Kirsi[/name] – Finnish
[name]Kirstie[/name]/ [name]Kirsty[/name]-- Scottish
[name]Stina[/name]-- Scandinavian

[name]Dorothy[/name]
Ditte-- Danish
[name]Dora[/name]-- Scandinavian
[name]Dorit[/name]-- Scandinavian
Dorti-- Welsh
Teija (tay-a) – Finnish
Thit-- Scandinavian

[name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Elna[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Lora[/name] – Italian

[name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Bethan[/name]-- Welsh
Betsan-- Welsh
Beti-- Welsh
Betja (bet-ya) – Dutch
[name]Betsi[/name]-- Welsh
[name]Eli[/name]”ka (el-eesh-ka)-- Czech
[name]Ilsa[/name]-- Dutch
Lies – Dutch
[name]Liesel[/name]-- [name]German[/name]
[name]Liesje[/name] (lee-sha) – Dutch
[name]Liisi[/name] – Finnish
Lysod-- Welsh

[name]Helen[/name]/[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Eli[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Elin[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Eline[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Ili[/name]-- Hungarian
[name]Leni[/name] – Scandinavian

[name]Henrietta[/name]
[name]Henna[/name] – Finnish
[name]Hennie[/name] – Dutch
[name]Jetta[/name] – Dutch
Rikke-- Scandinavian

[name]Jane[/name]/[name]Joanna[/name]
[name]Hannie[/name] – Dutch
Janken-- Scandinavian
Jannicke-- Scandinavian
Siani / Sharni-- Welsh

[name]Madeleine[/name]/[name]Magdalena[/name]
Duci – Hungarian
[name]Lene[/name] / [name]Leni[/name]-- Scandinavian
Lenka – Czech / Slovak
[name]Madel[/name]-- Scandinavian
Madicken-- Scandinavian
[name]Magli[/name]-- Scandinavian
[name]Malena[/name]-- Scandinavian
[name]Malin[/name] – Swedish

[name]Margaret[/name]
Beggan-- Welsh
[name]Magali[/name] – Provencial
[name]Mared[/name] – Welsh
[name]Megan[/name]-- Welsh
[name]Meta[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Mette[/name] – Danish
Paaie – Manx
Reetta – Finnish

[name]Mary[/name]/[name]Maria[/name]
Maiken – Scandinavian
[name]Mali[/name] – Welsh
[name]Masha[/name] – Russian
[name]Mia[/name] – Dutch/[name]German[/name]
My (mee) – Swedish

[name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Mette[/name]-- Scandinavian
[name]Thilda[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Tilla[/name] – Scandinavian

[name]Alexander[/name]
Ale?jo (a-le-chyo) – Esperanto
[name]Ales[/name] – Czech
[name]Olek[/name]-- Polish
[name]Sander[/name]-- Dutch
[name]Santo[/name] – Cornish

[name]Anthony[/name]
An?jo (an-chyo) – Esperanto
[name]Andon[/name] – Bulgarian
Anto – Croatian

[name]Christopher[/name]
[name]Kester[/name] – Scottish
[name]Kitto[/name] – Cornish
[name]Risto[/name] – Finnish

[name]George[/name]
[name]Jory[/name] – Cornish

[name]James[/name]/[name]Jacob[/name]
[name]Jem[/name] – Medieval English
[name]Jeppe[/name]-- Scandinavian

[name]John[/name]
[name]Hans[/name]-- Scandinavian
Hasse-- Scandinavian
[name]Ianto[/name]-- Welsh
[name]Jens[/name]-- Scandinavian
Jockie – Scottish
Johs-- Scandinavian

[name]Joseph[/name]
[name]Jef[/name]-- Dutch
[name]Jos[/name]-- Dutch
Zef – Dutch

[name]Matthew[/name]
[name]Mads[/name] – Danish
[name]Mats[/name] – Scandinavian
Ties – Dutch

[name]Nicholas[/name]
Klas/[name]Klaus[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Kolya[/name] – Russian
Nicca – Cornish
[name]Nils[/name] – Scandinavian

[name]Peter[/name]
[name]Per[/name] – Scandinavian
[name]Piers[/name] – Medieval English
Pyrs – Welsh

[name]Robert[/name]
[name]Bo[/name] – Scandinavian
Boye-- Scandinavian

[name]Thomas[/name]
[name]Tam[/name] – Scottish
[name]Tomek[/name]-- Polish

[name]William[/name]
Bilo – Welsh
Ville – Scandinavian

Can you give me any more international nicknames you think would work well? :slight_smile:

2

Some of these seem really familiar—

[name]Alida[/name] ([name]Adelaide[/name]) – Dutch
[name]Bethan[/name] ([name]Elizabeth[/name]) – Welsh — [name]Bethany[/name]
Betsan ([name]Elizabeth[/name]) – Welsh —[name]Betsy[/name]
[name]Cadi[/name]/Cati ([name]Catherine[/name]) – Welsh — [name]Katie[/name] (I really like this one though; in the US, people seem reluctant to spell any version of [name]Kate[/name] with a C “to be different”
[name]Ilsa[/name] ([name]Elizabeth[/name]) – Dutch — [name]Elsa[/name]
[name]Lesya[/name] ([name]Alexandra[/name]) – Russian —[name]Lexie[/name]
[name]Liesel[/name] ([name]Elizabeth[/name]) – [name]German[/name] — [name]Lisa[/name]
Paaie ([name]Margaret[/name]) – Manx ---- I’ve never heard of Manx. —[name]Peggy[/name]?
Reetta ([name]Margaret[/name]) – Finnish — [name]Rita[/name]

[name]Kester[/name] ([name]Christopher[/name]) – Scottish
[name]Kitto[/name] ([name]Christopher[/name]) – Cornish – I think it will be a while before [name]Christopher[/name] goes by any form of [name]Kit[/name] in the US again, but [name]Kitto[/name] is interesting. I think a lot of parents call their children “Kiddo” sometimes.
[name]Olek[/name] ([name]Alexander[/name]) – Polish — [name]Alec[/name]
[name]Risto[/name] ([name]Christopher[/name]) – Finnish
[name]Sander[/name] ([name]Alexander[/name]) – Dutch — [name]Sandy[/name] or [name]Xander[/name]. Yeah, guys used to be called [name]Sandy[/name]!
[name]Santo[/name] ([name]Alexander[/name]) – Cornish

I thought it was really interesting. I think this is a great idea! In the case of some nicknames being spelled wildly different from the versions of these names, we certainly have used something that appears similar. Not all the ones I listed are in favor right now.

Some of the nicknames by themselves could be used on their own if people like a nickname for a formal name. [name]Olek[/name] is cute! [name]Tam[/name], however… [name]Tammy[/name] is short for [name]Tamara[/name] or [name]Thomasina[/name], not one of those nicknames like [name]Chris[/name] or [name]Sam[/name] that could be either a boy or girl.

[name]Kester[/name] is like [name]Chester[/name], but [name]Chester[/name] isn’t related. [name]Santo[/name] sounds cool but also means saint in Spanish and Italian (I guess that’s ok for a name?). Many towns especially in the western US are named after saints from the Spanish influence/Mexico, some shortened to San, or in the feminine [name]Santa[/name]. Also we call Father [name]Christmas[/name] “[name]Santa[/name] [name]Claus[/name]” here. [name]St[/name]. [name]Nicholas[/name] sometimes, but usually [name]Santa[/name] [name]Claus[/name]. Not sure how come that’s not [name]Santo[/name] [name]Claus[/name] actually. Goofy Americans! It’s also pronounced like clause and not [name]Klaus[/name] (clouse), too. Now I gotta look up why…

This thread idea reminds me of the mom who wanted a nickname for [name]Wilhelmina[/name] and chose from the Polish, ‘[name]Minka[/name]’ several months ago. I think this is a great idea! I can’t wait to see more suggestions, although I have nothing to offer in that way at the moment.

[name]Klaus[/name] for [name]Nicholas[/name] would be one, I guess?

3

We call our [name]Nikolai[/name], [name]Kolya[/name]…which I think would work for [name]Nicolas[/name] too :slight_smile: Russian in origin :slight_smile:

4

[name]Karen[/name] – Manx is the traditional Gaelic language that comes from the [name]Isle[/name] of [name]Man[/name]. You are right, Paaie is the Manx form of [name]Peggy[/name] :slight_smile:

liveaparis – [name]Kolya[/name] is very cool!

Here are a few more I’ve remembered:

Ans ([name]Anna[/name]) – Dutch
Cille ([name]Cecilia[/name]) – Danish
[name]Kaja[/name] ([name]Caroline[/name]) – Polish
Liina ([name]Caroline[/name]) – Finnish
[name]Lora[/name] ([name]Eleanor[/name]) – Italian
[name]Magali[/name] ([name]Margaret[/name]) – Provencial
[name]Meta[/name] ([name]Margaret[/name]) – Scandinavian
[name]Mette[/name] ([name]Margaret[/name]) – Danish

[name]Jem[/name] ([name]James[/name]) – Medieval English
[name]Mads[/name] ([name]Matthew[/name]) – Danish
Ties ([name]Matthew[/name]) – Dutch
[name]Tomek[/name] ([name]Thomas[/name]) – Polish

5

I can do some Scandinavian ones ^^ Nicknames usually aren’t in use daily in Norway these days, we call people by their full name, no questions asked, unless the person in question wants you to use something else, at which point they will say so (A friend of mine is [name]Linn[/name] Borgny, loves it when we call her [name]Libby[/name]!) A lot of the names have nicknames anyway, and most of the nicknames are today used as full names only, at least in Norway, meaning you’re more likely to find a [name]Stina[/name] than a [name]Christina[/name] called [name]Stina[/name] by her friends and family…

Girls
[name]Sina[/name] - [name]Thomasina[/name], or any name ending in [name]Sina[/name]
[name]Minna[/name] - [name]Wilhelmina[/name], or any name ending in [name]Mina[/name]
[name]Tina[/name] - I think you get the picture, this is the most common one type of nicknaming
[name]Thilda[/name]/[name]Tilla[/name] - [name]Mathilda[/name]
Karo - [name]Karoline[/name]
Silla - [name]Cecilia[/name]
Tineke - [name]Martine[/name] (mar-TEEN)
Ea - [name]Andrea[/name] and other names ending in ea
Fi - [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Stina[/name] - [name]Christina[/name]
Diddi/Ditte - [name]Edith[/name]
Kikki - [name]Kristin[/name]
Ine/[name]Ina[/name] - names ending in -ina or -ine
Ia - any name starting with i and ending in a, most importantly [name]Inga[/name] in Scandinavia
[name]Kajsa[/name] - [name]Katherine[/name]
Maiken - [name]Maria[/name]
Madicken - [name]Magdalena[/name]
[name]Linni[/name] - Any name starting with [name]Lin[/name]
[name]Lolla[/name] - probably [name]Louise[/name], but would work with many names
[name]Nita[/name] - [name]Anna[/name], [name]Anita[/name]
[name]Madel[/name] - [name]Magdalena[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]/[name]Tessa[/name] - [name]Therese[/name]
Sickan - [name]Sigrid[/name] (Swedish)

Boys
Basse - Originally for [name]Bjorn[/name], but could work for [name]Sebastian[/name] (Swedish)
Hasse - [name]Hans[/name]
Johs - [name]Johannes[/name]
[name]Kalle[/name] - [name]Karl[/name]
[name]Mats[/name] - [name]Mathias[/name], [name]Matthew[/name]
[name]Bo[/name]/Boye - [name]Robert[/name]
Ville - [name]Vilhelm[/name]

I could probably dig up some more, but I don’t have my name books with me right now… I will return with more, though!! ^^

6

I’m safe home with my name books, and I have some more unusual nicknames for you

Boys:
[name]Jeppe[/name]/[name]Ib[/name] - [name]Jacob[/name] (Danish)
Ard - [name]Adrian[/name]
[name]Hans[/name]/[name]Jens[/name] - [name]Johannes[/name]
Klas/[name]Klaus[/name]/[name]Nils[/name] - [name]Nicholas[/name]
[name]Kort[/name]/[name]Kurt[/name] - [name]Conrad[/name]
Mons - [name]Magnus[/name]
[name]Per[/name] - [name]Peter[/name]
[name]Tobby[/name] - [name]Tobias[/name]

Girls:
Agda - [name]Agatha[/name]
[name]Brit[/name] - [name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Carrie[/name] - [name]Catherine[/name]
[name]Dorit[/name]/[name]Dora[/name] - [name]Dorothea[/name]
[name]Eli[/name]/[name]Elin[/name]/[name]Eline[/name] - [name]Helene[/name]
[name]Elna[/name] - [name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Gina[/name] - [name]Regina[/name]
[name]Hedda[/name]/[name]Hedi[/name] - [name]Hedvig[/name]
Hege - [name]Helga[/name]
[name]Hennie[/name] - [name]Henrietta[/name]
Rikke - Henrikke/Fredrikke, forms of [name]Henrietta[/name] and [name]Frederica[/name]
[name]Isa[/name] - [name]Isabella[/name]
Janken/Jannicke/[name]Jannick[/name] - [name]Joanna[/name] ([name]Johanna[/name])
[name]Jette[/name] - [name]Jeannette[/name]
[name]Jytte[/name] - [name]Judith[/name]
[name]Kari[/name]/[name]Karna[/name] - [name]Katherine[/name]
Lill - [name]Lillian[/name]
[name]Lene[/name]/[name]Leni[/name] - [name]Helena[/name], [name]Magdalena[/name]
[name]Line[/name]/[name]Lina[/name] - [name]Carolina[/name]/e ([name]LEE[/name]-neh/nah)
[name]Magli[/name]/[name]Malena[/name] - [name]Magdalena[/name]
[name]Mette[/name] - [name]Mathilde[/name]
Milde - [name]Mildred[/name]
Thit - [name]Dorothea[/name]
Tonje - [name]Antonia[/name]
[name]Trine[/name] - [name]Katrina[/name]
[name]Vera[/name] - [name]Veronica[/name]

I know a lot of these would be hard to use, and I know some of them are probably well known to you, but I thought you might find it interesting ^^ Thit is particularly funky!
These were just all listed in my name book from the 60’s :slight_smile:

7

I really like [name]Bo[/name] for [name]Robert[/name]! I like the name [name]Bo[/name] but it really feels like it needs to be longer. [name]Robert[/name] was my grandfathers name. We hadn’t planned on using it but I will definitely file the nn [name]Bo[/name] away to suggest to siblings and cousins who may want to use [name]Robert[/name] for themselves.

Sorry I don’t have any nn’s to contribute but I really love the other nn’s suggested here. Oh yeah my sister [name]Kristina[/name] was sometimes called [name]Stina[/name] by a few friends.

8

Great nicknames Dearest!! I’m with disa_lan, [name]Bo[/name] for [name]Robert[/name] is great!

I also like Ea, and [name]Mette[/name] for [name]Matilda[/name]/[name]Mathilde[/name] (I had it down for [name]Margaret[/name] as well :wink: )

9

Some more Welsh ones:

Beggan ([name]Margaret[/name])
[name]Betsi[/name] ([name]Elizabeth[/name])
Beti ([name]Elizabeth[/name])
Dorti ([name]Dorothy[/name])
Lysod ([name]Elizabeth[/name])
[name]Mali[/name] ([name]Mary[/name])
[name]Mared[/name] ([name]Margaret[/name])
[name]Megan[/name] ([name]Margaret[/name])
Nansi ([name]Ann[/name])
Nest/[name]Nesta[/name] ([name]Agnes[/name])
Siani/Sharni ([name]Jane[/name])

Bilo ([name]William[/name])
[name]Dai[/name] ([name]David[/name])
[name]Dewi[/name] ([name]David[/name])
[name]Deian[/name] ([name]David[/name])
[name]Ianto[/name] ([name]John[/name])
Pyrs ([name]Peter[/name])

10

I’ve added some Hungarian and Polish nicknames I’ve stumbled across. If I’ve got them wrong, someone please please correct me :slight_smile: