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Baby names

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Thoughts on the name Agatha and nickname Aggie?

159 replies

CalmLemonCrab · 04/09/2026 03:52

Thoughts on the name Agatha, middle name Jean, with a double-barrelled surname?

I really like Agatha, and we’d probably use Aggie as a nickname. I know it’s quite a divisive name, so interested to hear what people think…

One thing I’m unsure about is whether people associate “Aggie/aggy” with “aggressive” or being irritable? I’m not from the UK so I’m not sure if this is actually a thing people would notice?

Would love honest thoughts.

OP posts:
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NamingNoNames · 04/09/2026 10:00

@CalmLemonCrab , if you like it, use it. It's not awful.
Jean is fine too.

This is MN and if you'd suggested Liliana Rose nn Lily or Sophia May nn Fia you'd have had pages and pages of posts telling you how gorgeous the names are.

HoppityBun · 04/09/2026 10:04

DewDropsAndCobWebs · 04/09/2026 05:17

Aggie is a diminutive, rather than a nickname. Also, I think both are pretty.

Plus you can’t guarantee that her friends will shorten it in the way you want. Judging by current practice, she’d be more likely to be called Ags for short.

InQuiresandplaceswheretheysing · 04/09/2026 10:07

Awful ole lady name. And reminds me of Miss Trunchbull.

SnowFrogJelly · 04/09/2026 10:07

Awful

CherryPieToday · 04/09/2026 12:31

We had a pet we named Agathe, nicknamed Aggie and she was the cutest, and the name really suited her.
I think it is lovely for a baby, child and adult also.

Calliopespa · 04/09/2026 13:02

I actually quite like it as an old fashioned name due for revival, but have to concede it does have an Aunt Agatha/Trunchball vibe.

I like the suggestion above by @CatsAreBetterThanPeeps of Nessie from Agnes, though would note the Europeans pronounce Agnes kind of like "Ang-yes" which I am not so fond of.

For something similar, I'm going to suggest Augusta which I absolutely love! Good royal vibes and a soft s sound, which I think makes it more elegant, and I think it might slip in well with all the little Augusts round atm. I have always really liked Augusta.

WalmartWitney · 04/09/2026 18:16

I work with an Agatha....she likes to be known as, and has always been known as "Aggie". No thoughts of aggression spring to mind, although I know why you may think this.

Muffinme · 04/09/2026 18:27

Love the name Agatha, love Aggie too.

Excellentsausages · 04/09/2026 18:31

When I was a child there were some names that seemed harsh/ugly/sad dreary to me. I couldn't believe people had ever used them.

Names like Ethel, Maud, Joan, Agatha, Agnes, Enid, Gertrude, Doris, Ursula, Griselda, Phyllis, Gladys, Sibyl.

Now most of those names are starting to be used again, and hearing them at playgroups etc, they're really growing on me.

Which is a long way of saying, I think you should go for Agatha.

Calliopespa · 04/09/2026 18:36

Excellentsausages · 04/09/2026 18:31

When I was a child there were some names that seemed harsh/ugly/sad dreary to me. I couldn't believe people had ever used them.

Names like Ethel, Maud, Joan, Agatha, Agnes, Enid, Gertrude, Doris, Ursula, Griselda, Phyllis, Gladys, Sibyl.

Now most of those names are starting to be used again, and hearing them at playgroups etc, they're really growing on me.

Which is a long way of saying, I think you should go for Agatha.

Sibyl is one that has really popped out at me in a new light.

I used to think Fawlty Towers, but I now rather like it.

SuperBlondie28 · 04/09/2026 18:49

Please think OP.... Would you want these names Agatha, Agnes, Jean as YOUR name?

IdaGlossop · 04/09/2026 18:54

I know I like it because I named one of my cats Agatha. A good, solid girl's name.

Myli1 · 04/09/2026 19:07

I think Agatha/Aggie is one of those names that fell out of fashion in the UK, but has become more popular here over recent years due to there being a lot of Polish Agnieszkas abbreviated to Aggie or Aga. I quite like it.

Pieceofpurplesky · 04/09/2026 19:33

Love it

AgnesMcDoo · 04/09/2026 19:33

Agatha - beautiful

Aggie - awful

HangryBrickShark · 04/09/2026 19:35

There was a film on netflix (The Beast in Me) with a middle aged woman called Aggie and the name began to grate on me.

TooOrangey · 04/09/2026 19:36

I really love it.

Aubin7 · 04/09/2026 20:31

I like Agatha but not Jean.

Bowies · 04/09/2026 20:33

I like it - but agree it’s divisive (as considered for DD)

Bowies · 04/09/2026 20:33

Also love Jean

Handrearedmagpie · 04/09/2026 20:34

One of the ugliest names out there and Aggie is as actually worse.

Calliopespa · 04/09/2026 20:35

I know a little French Agathe. I think it is quite popular in France atm. She is about 4.

ICantStomachWhelks · 04/09/2026 20:38

I’m not a fan. The ‘ag’ part isn’t nice to say IMO.

Love Jean though.

forthelasttim · 04/09/2026 20:40

I knew an Agata and an Agate, both overseas students. I prefer this version to Agatha.

DemBonesDemBones · 04/09/2026 20:41

Nickname lovely full name horrible. Can’t you just use Aggie?

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