Quirky Nicknames for Classic Names

General Name Discussion
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Hi all!

This week on the blog, Brynn (@kipperbo1) has delved into the world of nicknames – or more specifically, unexpected nicknames for the classics. Forget Madeline “Maddy” or Zachary “Zac” and think Madeline “Minnie” or Zachary “Ziggy” instead.

Do you have any favourites from the list? Any that you hadn’t thought of before?

And most importantly, what are all your favourite quirky, creative nicknames for classic choices?

(Don’t feel restricted to the English classics! Feel free to share your offbeat nicknames for names that are considered classic where you are too!)

Have a great day and I can’t wait to read your answers!

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Ooh, I love a quirky nickname. A lot of these I had seen (and admired) but I really love [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] or [name_f]Libby[/name_f] for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_m]Mars[/name_m] for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_m]Benno[/name_m] for [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_f]Heidi[/name_f] or [name_f]Lady[/name_f] for [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Minty[/name_f] for [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], and Moth for [name_m]Timothy[/name_m].

Some of my own favourites:

[name_f]Elfie[/name_f] for any Elsie/Ellie names. [name_f]An[/name_f] [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] called [name_f]Elfie[/name_f] heals my soul.

[name_m]Finn[/name_m] for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]

[name_f]Cleo[/name_f] for [name_f]Claire[/name_f] / [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]

[name_m]Teddy[/name_m] for [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] or [name_f]Edwina[/name_f]

[name_f]Gretel[/name_f] or [name_m]Rhett[/name_m] for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]

[name_f]Marlo[/name_f] for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]

[name_f]Fae[/name_f] or [name_f]Fern[/name_f] for [name_f]Frances[/name_f]

[name_f]Fia[/name_f] for Sofia/Sophia, [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_f]Felicia[/name_f]

[name_m]Chase[/name_m] for [name_m]Charles[/name_m]

Djuna/Juna for [name_f]Juliana[/name_f], [name_f]June[/name_f] [name_f]Diana[/name_f]

[name_m]Vine[/name_m] for [name_f]Valentina[/name_f]

[name_m]Ari[/name_m] for any name with initials RE

[name_f]Lottie[/name_f] for [name_f]Violet[/name_f] / [name_f]Violetta[/name_f]

[name_f]Anya[/name_f] for any [name_f]Anna[/name_f]- or -ana name or [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]

Lio/Leo for [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], [name_m]Elliott[/name_m], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]

[name_f]Roxy[/name_f] for [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]

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So many I hadn’t heard before! Adelaide “Lady” and Elizabeth “Lilibet”!
Some of mine:
Olivia “Ollie” (went to school with one & spelled it Oli, but my favorite nickname for her is Liv)
Madeleine “Lainie”
Madalena “Dahlia”
Francisco “Chico” (very common grandpa name in Brazil)
Melissa “Lissy”
Dorothy “Rory”
Victoria “Rory”
Lavender “Ada” or “Ava”
Caroline “Ollie”
Marigold “Meg”
Abigail “Bea”
Common one for Giovanna is Gigi or Gi, but I’ve met Giovannas nn Gio, Jô & Gica. I like Gina and Gigi the best!
Maria Luiza/Lúcia “Marilu” common option is “Malu” but that’s my favorite
I actually have an on-going nn dictionary!

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[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] “Cali”
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] “Trisa”
[name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] “Allie”
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] “Isby”
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “Merry or Mari”
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] “Rory”
[name_f]Evangelina[/name_f] “Evy” (eh-vee)
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] “Ollie”
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] “Delia”
[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] “Riya”
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] “Fia” (I’m on a hunt for the best nickname for [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], and this is my top one so far!)
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] “Clarise, [name_f]Lemon[/name_f], Mintie”

I love these kind of names!

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I love [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] “Fia”! :heart_eyes: I’ve been looking for a [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] nickname I actually like, this is the best one I’ve seen!

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Okay, fun!

Here are my favorites:

Girls-

[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]

[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] nn Ibbi

[name_f]Susanna[/name_f] nn [name_f]Scout[/name_f]

Boys-

[name_m]Charles[/name_m] nn [name_m]Chance[/name_m]

[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] nn [name_m]Gibby[/name_m] or [name_f]Gilly[/name_f]

[name_m]Laurence[/name_m] nn [name_m]Lad[/name_m]

[name_m]Peter[/name_m] nn [name_m]Pip[/name_m] or [name_m]Patch[/name_m]

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[name_f]Love[/name_f] this list! [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] ‘Callie’ is a long-time favorite of mine, and I really like [name_m]William[/name_m] ‘Wim’, [name_f]Violet[/name_f] ‘Lettie’, [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] ‘Beck’, [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] ‘Reese’, [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] ‘Nico’, and [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] ‘Patch’ as well! I read a book as a kid that had a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] ‘Patch’ and have thought it was so cute ever since.

[name_f]Abigail[/name_f] ‘Aggie’, [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] ‘Mars’, [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] ‘Thor’, and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] ‘Benno’ are new ideas to me that I think are so cool.

[name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] ‘Neeley’ and [name_m]Gideon[/name_m] ‘Gio’ are two other quirky nicknames I have on my list. Also [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] ‘Jamie’, [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] ‘Nick’, [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] ‘Rex’, and [name_f]Sigrid[/name_f] ‘Sig’ or ‘Ziggy’!

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I realized I forgot what is probably my all-time favorite quirky nickname for a classic! [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] “Ebbie” !! I think [name_m]Ebbie[/name_m] is just the sweetest and most fun nickname.

(Sorry for posting twice in a row, my edits never seem to save :sweat_smile:)

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Smooshing the first and middle is probably my favorite nickname style! I think it’s so cool and creates endless options!

As for nicknames for classic names (using a veeeery loose definition of classic), I like:
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] → [name_f]Bess[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] (basically take all of the [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nicknames minus Ellie/Eliza and use it for Beatrice)
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] → [name_f]Plum[/name_f], [name_f]Vita[/name_f]
[name_m]Ephraim[/name_m] → [name_m]Remy[/name_m]
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] → [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Art[/name_m]
[name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] → [name_f]Dot[/name_f]
[name_m]Hershel[/name_m] → [name_m]Harry[/name_m]
[name_m]Abraham[/name_m] → [name_m]Bram[/name_m], [name_m]Abe[/name_m]
[name_m]Edwin[/name_m], [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_m]Edward[/name_m] → [name_m]Ned[/name_m]
[name_m]Robert[/name_m] → [name_m]Bo[/name_m]
[name_m]Douglas[/name_m] → [name_m]Gus[/name_m]
[name_f]Albertine[/name_f] → [name_m]Bertie[/name_m]
[name_f]Antigone[/name_f] → [name_f]Tiggy[/name_f]
[name_m]Corwin[/name_m] → Corio
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Imogene[/name_f] → [name_f]Midge[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f], [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], [name_f]Golda[/name_f] → [name_f]Goldie[/name_f]

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In the article I really liked [name_f]Carly[/name_f] for [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] for [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f] for [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], [name_f]Flossie[/name_f] for [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Billie[/name_f] for [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Vita[/name_f] for [name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_f]Cricket[/name_f] for [name_f]Christina[/name_f], and [name_f]Flick[/name_f] for [name_f]Felicity[/name_f].

Loved the suggestion [name_f]Fia[/name_f] for [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]!

Some other ideas:

[name_f]Adeline[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ada[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], or [name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Evelyn[/name_f] nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f] or [name_f]Lindsey[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Amy[/name_f] or [name_m]Mel[/name_m] or [name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] nn [name_m]Bear[/name_m]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] nn Carebear
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] nn Fi
[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] nn [name_m]Frankie[/name_m] or [name_m]Finch[/name_m]
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] nn [name_f]Trudy[/name_f] or [name_f]True[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] nn [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] nn [name_m]Rory[/name_m]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] nn [name_m]Marty[/name_m] or Martian

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Thank you for sharing everyone!

@FreyByTheWay

Loving:

Eleanor Frances ‘Elfie’ - so cute
Josephine ‘Finn’
Caroline ‘Cleo’
Margaret ‘Rhett’’ ‘Gretel’
Frances ‘Fae’
Juliana ‘Juna’
Valentine ‘Vine’
Violetta ‘Lottie’
Evangeline ‘Anya’
Elliott ‘Lio’ (I like Lydia ‘Lio’ too)

@Hannah_would_ve_been

Loving:
Madeleine ‘Lainie’
Madalena ‘Dahlia’
Dorothy ‘Rory’
Abigail ‘Bea’
Giovanna ‘Gica’
Maria Luiza ‘Marilu’

that’s so cool!

@silverfiregirly

Loving:
Caroline ‘Cali’
Isabelle ‘Isby’ (lovvve this)
Margaret ‘Merry’
Felicity ‘Fia’ (so cute - Felicity is such a fun one to find nicknames for!)

@lucy_halo1

Felicity ‘Fia’ is great isn’t it!

@MichelleM

Loving:
Clementine ‘Minnie’
Dorothea ‘Daisy’ (cute)
Isabella ‘Ibbi’
Susanna ‘Scout’
Gabriel ‘Gibby’

@EagleEyes

Patrick ‘Patch’ is so cute!

Nathaniel ‘Neeley’ is so lovely! Gideon ‘Gio’, Rebecca ‘Rex’ and Sigrid ‘Ziggy’ are fab!
And Elizabeth ‘Ebbie’ - so cute!

@lateaugust

These are brilliant!
Loving:

Beatrice ‘Betsy’’ ‘Bess’ (so cute!)
Victoria ‘Plum’ ‘Vita’ (yes!!)
Abraham ‘Bram’
Robert ‘Bo’
Corwin ‘Corio’
Imogen ‘Midge’
Cressida etc. ‘Goldie’

@Dragonrescuer

Loving:
Felicity ‘Fi’
Francesca ‘Finch’
Caroline ‘Carebear’

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[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] - Fizzy
[name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] - Dizzy
[name_m]Thomas[/name_m] - Massie
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] - [name_f]Neve[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] - [name_f]Mim[/name_f] or [name_f]Ginny[/name_f]
[name_m]Aramis[/name_m] - [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m]
[name_m]Christopher[/name_m] - [name_m]Hopper[/name_m]
[name_m]Jethro[/name_m] - [name_m]Joe[/name_m]
[name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] - [name_m]Bram[/name_m]

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These are fun and imaginative ideas. I’ve always thought [name_f]Cricket[/name_f] was a cool nickname.

[name_m]Victory[/name_m] → Crickey → [name_f]Cricket[/name_f]

The only one of the suggestions I can’t get behind is [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] → [name_m]Thor[/name_m]. I’ve always associated [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] with “gift of [the one true] God”. So to stick a mythological god’s name in as a nickname takes a lot away from the meaning.

[name_f]Love[/name_f]
[name_f]Lottie[/name_f] for [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Lainey[/name_f] for [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_f]Malu[/name_f] or [name_f]Mali[/name_f] for [name_f]María[/name_f] [name_f]Luisa[/name_f]
and
[name_m]Neil[/name_m] for [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]

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ooooh this is gorgeous!

i’ve always been in love with caroline ‘lina’ ever since i met the sweetest ‘lina’ it’s just been a name i really love! i also really like caroline ‘cara’ though it’s not on the list!

i think marianne ‘marnie’ is completely and utterly stunning! both names are outside of my usual style but i love and seeing them together is lovely!

scarlett ‘scottie’ i think is super duper sweet!! i also love the idea of scarlett ‘scout’ another one of my complete favourites.

i also love lucinda ‘indie’ it totally works and doesn’t seem too stretchy at all which is fun considering they are both different types of names!

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@shanade213
Fabulous ideas! [name_f]Love[/name_f]: Fizzy for [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Neve[/name_f] for [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], [name_f]Mim[/name_f] for [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_m]Bram[/name_m] for [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] and [name_m]Hopper[/name_m] for [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] (that’s fun!)

@TiffanyS [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] for [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] is cute! And Malu/Mali for [name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Luisa[/name_f] are great

@melia22 [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] ‘Lina’ is so lovely - it’s used in a great book too! [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] ‘Indie’ and [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] ‘Marnie’ are cool too - I think it really is about ‘the best of both worlds’ as they’re just so different in style!

@Julie_NameNerd [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] ‘Birdie’ and [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] ‘Marnie’ are so charming - [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] ‘Birdie’ has such vintage charm!

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So many gems! From the list I’m really fond of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] “Zibby”, [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “Meg”, [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] “Sosie”, [name_f]Juliette[/name_f] “Jette”, [name_m]Jeremiah[/name_m] “Jem” and [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] “Red”. [name_f]Love[/name_f] to see [name_m]Francis[/name_m] “Cisco” here as well! He’s of my favourites.

Others I really like are [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] “Ibby/Busy”, [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] “Sab”, [name_f]Araminta[/name_f] “Minty” and [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m] “Penn”. I love [name_f]Bebe[/name_f] for pretty much any name containing -be- (Beatrice, [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], etc).

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@Indilee [name_m]Francis[/name_m] ‘Cisco’ is so cool, right! and [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] ‘Red’! [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] ‘Sab’ is fab, [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] ‘Ibby/Busy’, and [name_f]Bebe[/name_f] for [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] etc are all great - love [name_f]Bebe[/name_f]

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This describes most of my list so I really like most of these!
Some on my list that weren’t mentioned:
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] “Cara”
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] “Wren”
[name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] “Tess(a)”
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] “Freddie”
[name_m]Edmund[/name_m] “Ted”
[name_f]Meredith[/name_f] “Merry/Red”
[name_f]Violetta[/name_f] “Lottie”
[name_f]Georgina[/name_f] “Ginger/Georgie”
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] “Beth”
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] “Nina”

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@sammaegre thanks for sharing - loving [name_f]Florence[/name_f] ‘Wren’, [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] ‘red’, [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] ‘Tessa’, [name_f]Georgina[/name_f] ‘Ginger’, [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] ‘Nina’

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I love these kinds of names!

Not usually my style, but I recently thought up [name_f]Charity[/name_f] “Charlie” and [name_m]Maximillian[/name_m] “Millie”