There are some names that I heard often, but they are nicknames for people’s given names and almost never stand alone names officially. Once I saw that the 2021 social security data came out, I decided to make some interesting choices with my time and see what nicknames aren’t taken seriously as stand alone names. Most of these are pretty generic by nameberry standards, but they are they ones I see in person.
William is currently at 6 for popularity and the main nickname I’ve heard for it is Will. This is the first year since 1900 that Will hasn’t been in the top 1,000 baby names for boys. In 2020 Will was 953 and it dropped 124 places to 1077 in 2021. [I realize that Liam (somehow still 1st) can also be a nickname for William, but I haven’t heard it as often] Will it become more popular as time goes on or Will it not? (yes puns, you are welcome.)
Benjamin is at 7, while the shortened Ben has been in decline and is at 763.
Theo is currently at 142 which is the highest place it’s ever been and seems to be continuing to rise, but still 132 places behind Theodore which is at 10.
Alexander is currently at 13, while Alex places at 194.
Daniel is at 16, while the Dan is not in the top 1,000. The last time Dan has has been in the top 1,000 was in 2000 at rank 933.
Similar for Michael which is 17 while the shortened Mike was last in the top 1,000 in 2017 placing 950th.
Samuel has always been in the top 100 since 1900 and is currently placing at 23 in 2021, but Sam is the lowest it’s been since 1900 at 657. Sam was highest in 1900 (data I was looking at only went back to 1900) placing 34th.
Currently 28 is Joseph with Joe at 799 and declining and Joey at 916. For girls, Joe hasn’t been in the top 1,000 since 1960 and Joey since 1979.
Matthew is at 36 while Mat and Matt are nowhere near as popular. Mat has only been in the top 1,000 twice since 1900 (977 in 1905 and 840 in 1902) while Matt’s last ranking was in 1988 at 786.
Gabriel ranks at 38 now while Gabe doesn’t rank. Gabe was 954th in 1905 and that is only only year since 1900 it’s been in the top 1,000.
Thomas, which was in the top ten for a good portion of the 1900’s, now is at 46 while Tom and Tommy as stand alones aren’t doing well. Tommy places 729 in 2021 while Tom last placed in the top 1,000 at 997 in 1996.
Charles is 50 and Charlie is 189. Charlie is currently more popular for baby girls at 127 than boys.
Christopher currently places 52, and it’s been declining since the 1970’s through early 2000’s where it was always in the top 10. Meanwhile Chris is only at 660. Chris was much more popular in the '60’s when it was hanging around place 60.
Andrew at 57 while the shortened Drew is only 509.
Nathan places at 59 and Nathaniel is at 133 while Nate has not been in the top 1,000.
Nicholas places 92 and Nicolas at 188 while Nick last placed in 2008 at 890 and Nic has not places in the top 1,000.
There are some like Jack (11) and Jackson (14) who do not follow this pattern, staying around the same place. And I’m sure some where the shorted version is higher, but I haven’t really seen any in what I’ve looked at yet.
