Nicknames for Girls

  1. Vivi
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Viv- names
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      Vivi is a short form of all the Vivian and Viveca forms that is sure to get a lot more attention now that a little Jolie-Pitt girl has been named Vivienne.
  2. Mamie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Mary or Margaret
    • Description:

      Mamie is back. Having finally shorn her Mamie Eisenhower bangs, this insouciant and adorable nickname name is perfect if you want a zestier way to honor a beloved aunt Mary. Meryl Streep's actress daughter, properly named Mary Willa, is called Mamie Gummer. You might think of Mamie as a sister of the stylish Maisie.
  3. Dora
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Theodora and Isidora, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "gift"
    • Description:

      Dora is poised for a comeback, right behind Laura, Nora, Cora, and Flora. First-time parents who haven't watched cartoons in a couple of decades should be aware of the Dora the Explorer connection, which has its pluses and minuses.
  4. Buffy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Description:

      Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy. You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an all-purpose nickname now buried in a mid-century time capsule.
  5. Sanne
    • Origin:

      Dutch, diminutive of Susanne
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Sanne is hugely popular in the Netherlands, but almost unknown here; which makes it an interesting prospect for the parent in search of an unusual name. Pronounced sah-na, Sanne is in keeping with the Dutch taste for nicknames plucked from the middle or end of a name vs. the beginning, such as Bas for Sebastien or Bram for Abram.
  6. Ollie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Olive or Olivia, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "olive tree"
    • Description:

      Ollie is used less often as a nickname for the mega-popular Olivia or the stylish Olive than Ellie is for Eleanor or Allie for Allison. That may be because Ollie has a much longer use as a nickname for boys.
  7. Jenny
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Janet, Jane, Jean, and Jennifer
    • Description:

      At the height of the Jennifer craze, many parents were cutting straight to the nickname and putting Jenny on the birth certificate. But now that Jennifer is the mom rather than the daughter, Jenny, which has been somewhat replaced by Jenna, has faded as well.
  8. Jules
    • Origin:

      Latin; Greek
    • Meaning:

      "youthful; soft, downy"
    • Description:

      Jules is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls. It's rarer than Billie, with a cool and casual feel. It's use in the popular TV series Euphoria - where the character of Jules Vaughn was portrayed by Hunter Schafer - brought this name into the spotlight.
  9. Jo
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Joanna, Josephine, etc
    • Description:

      Still evokes the spunky image of the character in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.
  10. Joni
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Iconic folk singer Joni Mitchell (born Roberta Joan) lends this cute vintage nickname a cool, bohemian feel. This spelling feels more streamlined and modern than Mad Men-esque Joanie.
  11. Lexie
    • Description:

      Lexi and Lexie, pixie-ish offshoots of the prolific Alex family, have come into their own, remaining in the Top 1000 for more than 20 years now.
  12. Laney
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elaine
    • Meaning:

      "bright shining one"
    • Description:

      A kind of old-fashioned nickname name that's enjoying some fresh life thanks to trendy brother Lane. Lainie is a more old-school spelling.
  13. Fifi
    • Origin:

      French, diminutive of Josephine
    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"
    • Description:

      Fifi is a perfect name -- for a French poodle. But Fifi may seem more child-friendly as names like Coco and Lulu rise. Fifi in its fluffiness also balances the seriousness of such full names as Josephine or Federica.
  14. Nona
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "ninth"
    • Description:

      Nona is a name sometimes given to the ninth child -- but unlikely to serve that purpose today. Musical cred: the name of a song by Motley Crue.
  15. Ginny
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Virginia, American place-name and Latin
    • Meaning:

      "virginal"
    • Description:

      Ginny was more common before Jenny and its myriad variants came along.
  16. Nico
    • Origin:

      Italian, diminutive of Nicola
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      A much more dynamic nickname than Nicky for any of the Nic-names. Part of a growing trend of boyish nicknames for girls - alongside Stevie and Lou - Nico has cheerful, snappy sounds, and a fresh, sassy image.
  17. Susie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own.
  18. Prue
    • Origin:

      Short form of Prudence, English virtue name
    • Meaning:

      "caution"
    • Description:

      After a long time in limbo, Prudence is now so clunky it'a cool, and it's starting to make a comeback, along with other Puritan virtue names like Mercy, Patience, and Constance.
  19. Izzy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Isabel and Isabella
    • Description:

      The longer Isabella stays in the Top 10—and it's been there for more than a decade—the more we hear the nickname Izzy (especially if we watch Grey's Anatomy). it's just a matter of time before it stands on its own, as it has as a first name for the daughter of Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher.
  20. Dusty
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Dusty first became popular as a girl's name thanks to singer Dusty Springfield - born Mary. She used her childhood nickname professionally, and many parents embraced Dusty as a name for their daughters, especially in the 1970s.