Boyish Nicknames for Girls
- Sully
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dark eyed"Description:
A jaunty offshoot of Sullivan, Sully will be associated by kids with the beloved character in the Pixar animated film Monsters, Inc. Rare for a girl, but with a cool surnamey style and echoes of midcentury favorite Sally.
- Teddi
Origin:
Short form of Theodora, GreekMeaning:
"gift of God"Description:
Now that Theodora (and Dorothea) are back, the adorable Teddi might work again for a baby girl. Teddi fits the rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside picks like Leni and Charlie.
- Charlee
Origin:
Spelling variation of Charlie, diminutive of Charles or CharlotteMeaning:
"free man"Description:
Charlie in all its forms has been a popular gender neutral name since the early 2000s and is now given almost equally to girls and boys. While it did once lean more (statistically) masculine, it has been used on girls too since the before the 20th century.
- Johnny
Origin:
Diminutive of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
A unisex nickname style name, similar in sound and feel to Andie, Candy, Indy, or Danny. For boys, it's the ultimate midcentury nickname. But with boyish names for girls like Scottie and Charlie trending, more parents may branch out to Johnny.
- Robbie
Origin:
Diminutive of Roberta, English from GermanMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Roberta and Robert may be so far out they're...still out, but Robbie might make one of the trendy new boyish nicknames for girls a la Scottie and Charlie. Actress Margot Robbie gave it a surname spin.
- Davy
Origin:
Short form of David, HebrewMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
Davy (or Davey) is a little-used member of the trendy new group of boyish nicknames for girls, which includes Stevie, Scottie, and Billie. Maybe that's because there's no good feminine form of David -- we have heard Davette and Davida, but don't recommend them. But Davy could be cute for girl.
- Tommie
Description:
Tommie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Thomasina, the female version of Thomas, which means 'twin' in Aramaic. While it can also be used as a masculine nickname for Thomas, it has gained popularity as an independent feminine name, particularly in the United States during the mid-20th century. Tommie has a friendly, approachable quality with its informal '-ie' ending, giving it a playful yet versatile character. The name carries a somewhat vintage charm while maintaining a tomboyish appeal that some parents appreciate. Though less common today than in previous generations, Tommie continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its unpretentious style and historical connection.
- Paddy
Origin:
Diminutive of Patricia, IrishMeaning:
"noble, patrician"Description:
Paddy is generally a nickname for the male Patrick, and not one used very often any more due to its derogatory connotations. But plausibly this could be a short form for Patricia.
- Vinny
Origin:
Diminutive of Lavinia or feminization of VincentDescription:
Vinny or more usually Vinnie, believe it or not, used to a more common nickname for girls than it is now. Along with Ollie, Bertie, and Gussie. it was a 19th century version of a gender neutral name.
- Ricki
Origin:
Feminine variation of Richard or diminutive of Frederica, GermanMeaning:
"dominant ruler; peaceful ruler"Description:
One of the earliest of the relaxed, unisex names, now relegated to oldies rock stations. Ricki is a spirited, retro nickname traditionally short for Frederica but now stands strong on its own. Notable bearers include talk show host Ricki Lake, giving it a bold, independent vibe.
- Gus
Origin:
Short form of AugustaMeaning:
"great, magnificient"Description:
Boyish nicknames for girls are trending! Gus - short for the proper Augusta - fits alongside casual cool girls Jo and Lou. With August and Gus rising for boys, maybe Gus will be next to cross over.
- Lonnie
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lion"Description:
An old-timey boyish nickname that works as a diminutive of Leona or Leonie, Alondra, Lorna or any female name with strong L and N sounds.
- Benny
Origin:
Diminutive of Benjamina, Benedicte, or BernadetteMeaning:
"son of the right hand; blessed; brave bear"Description:
With Scottie, Stevie, Billie, and Frankie all on trend for girls, Benny could be another unisex nickname that catches on in the coming years. Influencer Jaci Marie Smith named her baby Benny Marie in 2024 and author Charmaine Wilkerson used the name on a female character in her popular novel Black Cake, as a nickname for Bernadetta. Beyond pop culture, 9 baby girls were called Benny in recent years.
- Cass
Origin:
Diminutive of Cassandra or Cassia, GreekMeaning:
"shining or excelling man; cinnamon"Description:
Ties to the unfortunate Mama are now unraveling, leaving Cass or Cassie to stand on its own as a fresher sounding Cathy or Kate. With gender-neutral names abound and the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls, Cass may be on the up and up.
- Ozzie
Origin:
English, GermanMeaning:
"divine; deer"Description:
This zippy diminutive name has been rising up the charts in recent years as a cool unisex choice. The Ozzy spelling is currently more popular all round, however for girls the Ozzie spelling isn't too far behind. It was given to around 50 American girls in 2023, while Ozzy was chosen for 70.
- Artie
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"bear"Description:
Artie is usually short for Arthur, but with boyish nicknames like Billie and Frankie rising it may be time to consider Artie for a girl too. Artie works as a sweet retro tomboy name, a possible nickname for Artemis or Arlette, and a way to honor Grandpa Arthur.
- Gussie
Origin:
Diminutive of Augusta, LatinMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
Gussie fits the growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside Charlie and Frankie. But Gussie is a bit fussy — try Gus.
- Neely
Origin:
Short form of Cornelia, Eleanor, Helena, or McNeilly, English, ScottishMeaning:
"horn; shining torch; son of the poet"Description:
A nickname style name, Neely could derive from the strong sounding Cornelia, as a playful alternative to Nelly from Eleanor and Helena, or as a variation of the Scottish surname McNeilly, with the cool meaning "son of the poet".
- Joss
Origin:
English, diminutive of JocelynDescription:
Joss is more fashionable than Jocelyn or Josslyn. This is a short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone. One of a troupe of adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls a la Lou and Charlie.
- Mickey
Origin:
Diminutive of Michelle or MichaelaDescription:
Mickey is a nickname-name redolent of the mid-20th century and best-known as a mouse name. While this spelling works for either gender, the girls' version is more often spelled Micki.