Nickname Names

Actor Rhames's imaginative shortening of the prosaic Irving, giving it new life and energy.

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.

Pronounced like Tom, but not everyone will know that.

Infantilizing short form best reserved for toddlers and younger.

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

Mo is a punchy, unisex nickname with endless versatility, from Maureen to Morgan to the British favorite Imogen. Its simplicity and charm make it a modern pick for parents embracing minimalist names - and part of a rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls.

Feline nickname for Tabitha — a bewitching vintage choice.

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.

Bizzy has a 1930s wisecracking waitress -- think Mitzi, Flossie, Fanny -- feel to it, yet at the same time feels like a fresh, modern nickname for Elizabeth. Given that any Bizzy better be, this name could be a way to make your Elizabeth stand out.

Replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter.

Very Brady Bunch.

As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name. Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.

Not one but two Spice Girls are named Mel, which led to it briefly being more popular for girls than boys in the 90s and early 00s, but it has now fallen out of favor for both sexes.

Old-man name, soft as a fraying gray cashmere cardigan, that would be even cuter for a girl.

Cute and unusual as a nickname, but lacking the legs to stand on its own.

Once a cowboyish old man name, Clem is now more commonly heard as a nickname for the fashionable Clementine, meaning "merciful one". Clemency, Clemence and Clementia are other possible long forms.

Willie is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls, rarer than Billie. It definitely makes the somewhat-fearsome Wilhelmina more fun and approachable.