Nickname Names

Audacious offshoot of Roxanne, the wayward heroine of the musical Chicago.

There are lots of Kathy moms and grandmas but very few babies, most of whom are now called Kate or Katie.

Tory (and more commonly, Tori) is most often seen as a feminine nickname for Victoria. However, in terms of putting Tory — just Tory — on the birth certificate, boys have the leg up.

One of the few Lu- names that you've probably never heard of, Lulie could prove a good alternative for Luna, Lucy, and Lula.

Joining Lennon, Bowie, and Hendrix in the realm of classic rock-inspired names that feel fashionable today is Jovi — as in Bon Jovi. Jovi is a variation of the Latin Jove — another name for the Roman god of the sky, Jupiter.

This once vivacious midcentury nickname is rarely used for modern babies.

Best left at the Jersey Shore.

A short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone.

Jeanie is a midcentury bobby soxer kind of nickname that might almost be so old it's new again.

Minty isn't a fresh word name — it's an old-fashioned nickname for Araminta, the romantic smoosh name coined by playwright William Congreve in 1693.

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.

Often stands alone in Israel, but rarely here.

Chris is one of the longest-running and still most appealing unisex short forms, still used nearly equally for boys and girls. Though no longer fashionable, Chris still feels crisp and appropriate for both sexes.

A cute diminutive of Jack, already technically a nickname for John, famously borne by Hong Kong actor, director and martial artist Jackie Chan.

Last cool when Bogie roamed Casablanca.

This somewhat boisterous Celtic name would be at home in a noisy pub or out walking on the moors. In Scotland, it was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.

Cute, distinctive diminutive for this regal-sounding name.

With Tillie a new favorite of avant-garde parents, the British music-hall Tessie might conceivably follow.

Bas is a fashionable name in its own right in the Netherlands, where it's been in the Top 10. Used throughout Europe, it may have a future here as a straightforward-but-charming nickname name. Baz is another, similar and more appealing possibility.

A feminine multicultural nickname name perfectly able to stand on its own.