I thought it’d be nice to do a post on unconventional nicknames for common (or maybe uncommon, depending) names. It might help out anyone who loves Elizabeth but not Beth, Margaret but not Maggie. I’ll just make a list, since it would be way too long to talk about each one.
Girls
- Isabella-Isa
- Sophia -Fee, Fifi, Fia
- Olivia -Vivi, Via, Livvy, Liv
- Abigail -Gail
- Elizabeth -See here.
- Samantha -Mandy
- Sarah -Sadie, Sally
- Catherine/Katherine -See here. Also, Cassie.
- Alexandra -Sandra, Sandy.
- Amelia -Millie, Mia, Lia, Amy
- Mary -Polly, Molly
- Michelle -Chelle, Mickey, Mimi
- Charlotte -Lotte, Lottie
- Rebecca -Reba, Bex
- Miranda -Mira, Mandy, Mimi, Mindy
- Margaret -See here.
Boys
- Jacob -Cob, Jay
- Michael -Mickey, Mick, Mitch
- Christopher -Topher, Kit, Kip
- Anthony -Tony (most little ones I know are “just Anthony”
- Andrew -Andy, Drew, Ander (ditto Anthony)
- Alexander -Sandy, Sander, Xander, Alec
- Nicholas -Cole, Klaus, Nico
- Kevin -Vin
- Evan -Van
- Cameron -Ron
- Thomas -Tam, Tip, Top
- Connor -Connie (I think this is dashing on a boy)
- Charles -Chuck, Chaz, Chase, Chip
- Julian -Jules
- Sebastian -Seb, Baz, Sebbo
- Edward -Ward, Ned, Ted
Well, there you go. All of the original names are in the top 200, and I tried to provide nicknames that are at least a shade fresher than the usual nickname or the name itself, but I might be wrong. Also, the spellcheck is telling me Rebecca is wrong and that it should be Rebbecca. It’s trendy. 😛
What do you make of this list?
Moniker Madness! 
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Thanks! Some of these are the *common* nickname, I’d say, but I agree, it all depends on where you are and who you run into… I’d like to suggest a few, if I could…
Olivia: Ivy, Oli, O, Vee
Alexandra: (beyond Alex, Alexa) Lex, Lexa, Lexi, X, Andi, Lana, Alli, Sasha (Dree and Drea work for Alexandria, which is also a fairly popular variant)
Amelia: Mimi, Lili, Mel
Michelle: Mitch, Shelly, Elle
Charlotte: Lo, Lola, Lolo, and as one poster (sorry, don’t remember who) on Verity’s board mentioned, Arlo
Rebecca: Becca
Miranda: Randi
Alexander: Alexi/Alexei, Sascha, Alyosha
Nicolas: Nacho (I actually have a male friend with this nickname)
Julian: Lee
Sebastian: Seba (Have a friend with this nn too)
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I totally forgot about Sasha! Most Rebeccas I know are Becca, actually, which I why I left it off. Ditto Randi for Miranda.
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Oh, I like Mimi for Amelia! Sweet. I have a 50 something cousin named Michelle who’s gone by Shelley longer than I’ve been alive, so it doesn’t feel very novel to me, but Elle for Michelle is neat. I’ve thought Miri for Miranda would be pretty neat, Randi bugs me because of it’s usage. I’ve also seen Bex for Rebecca. And Mandy for Smantha is novel, sure beats Sam!
Anthony/Tony may be new in a few years, All the Anthony’s I know are Tony. It’s all I heard practically, growing up!
The spellcheck’s telling you Rebecca’s wrong? my goodness, someone needs to fix that, pronto! 🙂
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I have a cousin Philomena, “Mimi.” That’s where I got the idea! I think Mimi can work for pretty much any name with an M.
And of course you know Tonys, you’re from Jersey! 😛
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 at 1:50 am
I like Olive for Olivia. And my favorite nickname for Charlotte is Charlie! So cute!:)