Boyish Nicknames for Girls

Now that Theodora (and Dorothea) are back, the adorable Teddi might work again for a baby girl.

Not often heard on girls, although Hillary Scott used it as the middle name for her daughter Betsy in 2018.

Somewhat surprisingly, this old-school David nickname is now used for baby girls in the US more than 80% of the time. In fact, Davie is really heating up for baby girls, in the same style as Frankie and Scottie and Stevie.

Bernie is an old school unisex nickname name, on the order of Bobbie or Willie. Not the most modern or most attractive name around, but it has a certain vintage charm.

Toby is an early unisex name with a Shakespearean pedigree; when used for a girl it retains its tomboyish quality.

Artie is usually short for Arthur, but with boyish nicknames like Billie and Frankie rising, it could make for a sweet retro nickname for a girl too – perhaps short for Artemis or Arlette.

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.

Duke has recently been seen on the TV show Better Things as the name of the youngest of three sisters, the other two being named Max and Frankie.

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. Actress Margot Robbie gave it a surname spin.

Teddy or Teddie is an adorable short form of Theodora or Edwina, made more feminine by the -ie ending. Extremely cutesy for a full name, but feels increasingly wearable in this era of nicknames as given names. Television personality Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave is a famous bearer of another spelling variation.

Gussie is fussy — try Gus.

Cool a few decades ago, along with Lori and Tori -- but no more.

Cool, gender-neutral short form of Alexandra and company.

Has followed mother name Maureen off the radar screen.

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".