Nickname Names

Short for Samantha or long for Sam, Sammy is a sweet midcentury nickname name that we can see coming back.

Fast-food chain, no longer a baby.

Poet Jorie Graham is the best-known (okay: only known) bearer of this fresh, spirited spin on the Cory-Tory-Rory group. The boys' Jory is a Cornish nickname for George.

Occasionally used as an independent name, but why.

Short but substantial, Russ does not need the full-form Russell to go on the birth certificate. Russ strikes a nice balance between familiar, friendly, and underused.

Tib and Tibb originated in the 13th century as nicknames for Theobald (for boys) and Isabel and Isabella (for girls). As Isabel grew in popularity, Tib(b) was used more often on girls. By the 16th century, Tib was a term for a young girl, much like Tom was for young boys.

A likable nickname-name in the Callie, Hallie mode.

Appealing short form of the stuffy Cleveland, occasionally used on its own.

Spence is occasionally used as a name all on its own and it has more of a sense of completeness than many nickname-names.

The jazziest nickname for Charles.

Sweet and charming French nickname for Anne, à la Manon for Marie.

A distinctive Polish short form of Krystyna, ultimately deriving from Christian, Krysia has a similar feel to Sasha, but with a bit of kick from the K sounds.

Ettie or Etty works as a nickname for any name with a prominent "et" sound, usually at the end: think Henrietta, Juliette or Colette. The -ette ending is a French diminutive suffix.

Tib was a unisex nickname in the 13th century, used as a short form of Theobald and Isabel. As Theobald waned in popularity, it became far more associated with girls, so much so that Tib was a term for young girls by the 16th century.

Lu is an adorable mini-name that could be short for Luna, Lucinda, Luisa, or any other name beginning with the letters Lu. Or it can just stand on its own in first or middle place.

Musician Ry Cooder brought this short form into the lexicon -- his full name is Ryland -- and it feels more familiar now that more Ry- beginning names such as Ryder and Riley are, ahem, riding up the ranks. The Rye spelling makes it more of a word or a nature name and less of a nickname.