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Suggestions of unique nickname-names for traditional names?!

18 replies

MilaBanks · 21/09/2020 22:31

We have a daughter named Elizabeth. When we brought her home from the hospital, I just happened to call Bibby in a nickname kind of way, but my mother-in-law thought it was her actual nickname and exclaimed it was adorable, so we started calling her that as well. I ended up kind of liking it and eventually it grew into Biba, which she happily goes by now. I really want to do something similar for her sibling, a traditional name with a slightly more unique nickname; so they get the best of both worlds when it comes to names.

Although, my husband doesn't want anything too posh, (I'll be honest, I'm American who moved here for work then got married and my daughter is still young, so I still have no concept of what is "posh" or not in terms of names).

Let me know any unique nickname names you guys have! For either gender!

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BackforGood · 21/09/2020 23:40

I don't really 'get' this 'planning nicknames'. In my experience - and, as you have found yourself - family nicknames just sort of evolve. Often it will be from what one of the children say, or a mis-pronounciation by your older child, when the baby is born, or is little.

I have 3 adult children, and all of them have family nicknames that aren't traditional shortenings of their full names, and certainly aren't anything I thought of before they were born - they all just somehow evolved at different points in their lives.

MiconiumHappens · 21/09/2020 23:47

Agree that nicknames are best to come about naturally but....co-co short for Charlotte?

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 21/09/2020 23:49

I agree with PPs. Nicknames evolve naturally. My DC both have multiple nicknames, most of which have nothing to do with their actual names.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 21/09/2020 23:50

Penelope (Nell, Penny)
Alexandra (Zanny, Ali, Andi)
Felicity (Lissie)
Beatrix. Beatie Trixie
Claudia (Dee-Dee)
Roberta (Robbie, Bobbie)
Catherine (Rene)
Josephine Seffi
Thomasina (Massi)

Alexander (Zander)
Andrew (Drew)
Herbert Herbie Bertie
Frederick (Derry)

DonttouchthatLarry · 21/09/2020 23:58

Tris for Beatrice (from the 'Divergent' book/film series).

Chesca (Francesca)

Ticky (Felicity)

LocalHobo · 22/09/2020 00:29

Sally = Slab
Jacob = Cub
Alice = Licky
Patience = Pud
Frederick= Fudge
Camilla = Mimi
Eleanor = Nellie

This is a bit identifiable and probably not desirable. I agree that nicknames happen or not, they can't be imposed.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/09/2020 01:56

Rosalind. Lindy.
Antonia (Nia)

Fivemoreminutes1 · 22/09/2020 04:46

Georgia - Gigi
Francesca - Chessy
Madeline - Della
Sophia - Fifi
Alexis - Lex
Genevieve - Vee

Dominic - Nico
William - Wilby
Oscar - Oz

Humbersider · 22/09/2020 04:52

Chalky
Dusty
Nipper
Podge

Agree with pp: nicknames have to emerge, spontaneously. Planning nicknames is just weird.

Auto · 22/09/2020 09:00

Frances, Francesca - Frankie, Kiki
Alexandra - Xan, Lex, Sandy
Constance - Connie
Miranda, Miriam, Mirabelle - Mimi
Delilah - Lila, Dell, Della
Stephanie - Sephi
Victoria - Tor, Vi
Georgiana - Gia, Gigi
Josephine - Josie

FluffyEggsontoast · 22/09/2020 10:07

Margaret
Edith
Jemima
Clementine

All have lots of nickname options that can develop naturally rather than pre-planning

florascotia2 · 22/09/2020 10:22

In the 1960/1970s, there was a very, very fashionable clothes shop called 'Biba'.

According to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Biba was the nickname of the sister ( Biruta) of the shop's founder, Barbara Hulanicki:

www.vam.ac.uk/articles/biba

zigaziga · 22/09/2020 11:43

Elizabeth is the perfect name for nicknames.

I think others in a similar vein are
Catherine (Kitty etc)
Alexandra (Ally, Lexi etc)
Sophia (Fifi?)
Louisa (Lulu?)

Christopher (Kit)
Edward (Ted)

zigaziga · 22/09/2020 11:47

Oh and Pip for Philip or Philippa would be great!
Biba and Pip

Squeakerfoot · 22/09/2020 12:25

I've come across these nicknames, many pretty traditional but still on the more unusual side:

Charlotte - Lottie
Eleanor/Helena - Nell/Nellie
Isadora - Zadie
Susannah - Sukey
Esme - Essie
Ophelia - Fifi
Caroline - Cece
Dominique - Mini
Victoria - Tory
Alexandra/Alexis - Lex/Lexie

Edward - Ned
Christopher - Kit
Nicolas - Nico
Oscar - Ozzie
Alexis - Lex
Alexander - Sasha
Julien - Juju

Also from books:
Beatrice - Beezus
Dorothea - Dodo
Isabelle - Zazie
Phillip - Pip

I've known quite a lot of people plan nicknames into their name choice and they've stuck. Sometimes the kid has acquired additional ones later too. Doesn't seem odd to me.

Thefaceofboe · 22/09/2020 12:56

Georgina nn Gigi?

MercyBodle · 22/09/2020 13:30

Eponine, Elspeth - Eppie
Abigail - Aggie
Celeste, Estelle/a, Thomasin, Artemis - Tess
Lucy, Lucinda, Lucia - Lulu
Adelaide - Dizzie, Dixie
Primrose, Persephone - Posy
Ingrid - Tiggy, Iggy
Juniper - Pip
Anastasia - Taisy, Tansy
Hermione - Hero, Mimi
Miriam - Mim, Mimi
Florence - Floy
Clementine - Minty, Minta, Emmy
Constance - Consie
Imogen - Meg, Meggie
Juliet - Jet, Jetta

Christopher, Casper - Kip
Theodore - Ted, Odo, Thor
Joseph - Jos
Henry - Hal, Huck
George - Geordie
Jasper - Pip
James - Jazz, Jem
Barnaby - Baz, Bo

BingoGo · 23/09/2020 19:11

I call my boys Mr Snout-Snouzi-Nout-Nouni-Nini-Nina
& Mr Beak-Beaky-Beekiki-Kiki-GiGi 😅 they are just 13 months so they don't care that some are girly nicknames.

It's completely unrelated to their actual names and was because on the sonogram twin A had a beak shaped nose and twin B had a snout shaped nose and it just stuck.

I don't think you should plan nicknames 🤷‍♀️ just like with your daughter, it came about naturally, and I reckon it will with your next child too.

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