When I was pregnant with my first, I was on the hunt for baby girl names with nicknames (that were actually cute). I didn’t want her to be stuck with a name that she hated someday, and the best way to do this was to give her options.
Turns out – we had a TON of options (albeit they were difficult to find), and are very happy with our picks for both of our daughters. Either way, I wanted to share the list of baby girl names with nicknames so that hopefully your search is a little easier.
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BABY GIRL NAMES WITH CUTE NICKNAMES
Abigail (Abby, Abi, Gayle, Gail) – Hebrew for “father’s joy or gives joy”
Adley (Addy) – English for “judicious”
Adelaide (Addy) – French for “nobility”
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Allison (Ally, Ali, Allie) – French for “noble”
Alexandra (Alex, Ali, Ally) – Greek for “defender of mankind”
Amelia (Amy, Mia, Lia, Milly) – German for “work”
Amberly (Amber) – Arabic for “a jewel-quality fossilized resin”
Annalee (Anna, Ann) – English for “grace, pasture”
Anastasia (Stacie, Stacy, Tasia, Stasia, Anna) – Greek for “resurrection”
Aurielle (Auri, Elle) – Latin for “golden”
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Aurelia (Ray, Eli, Lia) – Latin for “the golden one”
Brianna (Bri, Anna, Anne) – English for “high, noble, strong”
Bethany (Annie, Betty, Beth, Effie, Bethel) – Greek for “house of affliction”
Blakelee (Lee, Lea) – English for “dark woodland clearing”
Brinleigh (Brin, Leigh, Lee) – Old English for “burnt meadow”
Charlotte (Char, Charlie, Lola, Lotte) – French for “petite”
Caroline (Carrie, Cara, Carole) – English for “joy”
Camilla (Cami, Camie, Cam, Millie) – Latin for “free-born, noble”
Cadence (Cadie, Cade, Cady) – English for a “rhythmic flow of sounds”
Coraline – (Cora, Coral, Cory) – English for “semi-precious sea growth coral”
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. Use coupon code AUDREY10 for 10% off!Charlotte (Charlie, Charr, Lola, Lottie) – French for “manly or feminine”
Christina (Christy, Tina, Christa, Christine) – Latin for “follower of Christ”
Camryn – (Cami, Cam, Cammy, Ry) – Scottish for “crooked nose”
Carleen (Carly, Lee) – German for “man”
Delilah (Lila, Lilah, Ly) – Hebrew for “amorous, delight”
Daniela (Danni, Nani, Ela) – Hebrew for “God is my judge”
Destiny (Desi, Dez, Dessie) – English for “certain fortune, fate”
Danica (Dani, Dannie, Niki, Nika) – Hebrew or Slavic for “morning star”
Desiree (Des, Desi, Dez, Rae, Dezi) -French for “much desired”
Eleanor (Ellen, Nora, Ann,El, Nori, Nell) – Greek for “sun ray, shining light”
Elizabeth (Lyza, Lyssie, Lizzy, Liz, Liza, Bettie, Libby) – Hebrew via greek for “my God is an oath”
Emilia (Emmy, Lia, Emma, Millie) – Latin for “rival”
Elaina (Lana, Elaine, Lainie, Elle, Ella, Laine) – French for “bright shining light”
Emmalyn (Emma, Emmy, Lyn, Aly) – French for “hardworking, peaceful home”
Elaine (Lainey, Ellie, Laine) – Greek meaning “sun ray or shining light”
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Faelynn (Fae, Lynn, Elyn) – English for “fairy of the lake”
Francesca (Fran, Frankie, Cece Cesca, Francine) – Latin for “free one”
Felicia (Elle, Lish, Fia, Ellie, Licia) – Latin meaning “happy”
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Florence (Lora, Flor, Flo, Florie) – English meaning “blossoming”
Gracie (Grace, Gray, Rae) – Latin for “inspired by grace”
Gabrielle (Gabby, Gabs, Ellie, Lily, Belle) – French for “woman of God”
Genevieve (Genna, Ginny, Gemma, Gem, Viv, Gina, Geneva, Ginger) – Celtic, for “white wave”
Gracelynn (Grace, Lynn, Elyn, Rae) – English, Welsh for “inspired by grace”
Gwendolyn (Gwen, Winnie, Wendy, Lyn) – Welsh for “fair, blessed”
Guinevere (Gwen, Eve, Gia, Vera, Winnie, Ginny, Vee) – Welsh for white shadow, white wave”
Hannah (Hanni, Han, Ann, Anna) – English for “favor, grace”
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Helena (Lena, Lennie, Lonnie, Nellie) – Greek for “bright, shining light”
Hillary (Hil, Hilly) – Latin for “cheerful, merry”
Hollie (Holl, Olly) – English for “the holly tree”
Henrietta (Etta, Ettie, Hattie, Hatsie) – French for “keeper of the hearth”
Isabella (Izzy, Isa, Belle, Bella) – Hebrew meaning “pledged to God”
Ivanna (Iva, Vana) – Czechoslovakian for “female version of Ivan which means gift of God”
Imogen (Mo, Genny, Gen, Monnie) – English for an unknown reason, possibly “maiden” or “girl”
Ivette (Ivy, Eve, Ivee) – French for “yew tree”
Josephine (Jo, Josie, Jojo, Fifi) – French for “may”
Jacquelyn (Jackie, Lyn, Jan, Jacee) – French for “supplanter”
Jasmine (Jas, Mina, Jazzy, Minnie) – Persian for “gift of God”
Julianna (Julie, Jules, Juju, Anna) – Latin for “young”
Juliette (Julie, Jules, Etta, Jetta) – French for “youthful”
Jaylee (Jay, Lee, Jalo) – American – unknown meaning (the name is fairly modern)
Jennifer (Jen, Jenny, Jenna) – Arthurian legend name meaning fair one”
Johanna (Joanie, Hanna, Jo, Joni, Josie) – Hebrew for “God is gracious”
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Jessica (Jess, Jessie) – Hebrew for “rich” or “God beholds”
Kadence (Kadie, Kade) – Latin for “rhythm”
Katherine (Kate, Kath, Kate, Kathy, Katey, Katie) – English for “pure”
Kimberly (Kim, Kimmy, Kimber, Kiki, Kay) – English for “From the wood of the royal forest”
Kaitlyn (Kait, Kat, Katy, Kay, Lynn) – Irish for “pure”
Kristen (Kris, Krisa, Kiki, Kristie) – English for “follower of Christ”
Kathleen (Kat, Kathy, Lee, Kiki, Kate, Kath) – French for “pure, clear”
Kendall (Dolly, Kenny, Ken, Kay, Doll) – English for “royal valley”
Layla (Lay, Lola) – Arabic for “night”
Liliana (Lil, Lila, Ana, Lilo, Lana) – Spanish for “lily”
Lydia (Lyds, Lydi, Lyli, Lia) – Greek for “kind, kindred spirit”
Luciana (Luci, Ana, Lulu, Lucida) – Latin for “light”
Liana (Lil, Lian, Ana) – French for “to climb like a vine”
Lorelei (Lori, Lola, Rory) – German for “alluring” or “temptress”
Laurel (Laurie, Laura, Rela, Aura) – Latin for “laurel tree”
Leilani (Leila, Lani, Lea) – Hawaiian for “heavenly flowers”
Lorraine (Lori, Raine, Lora) – French for “kingdom of Lothar”
Margaret (Meg, Maggie, Maisie, Mags) – Greek for “pearl”
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Makayla (Ayla, Kayla, Kaylie, Mikey, Kay) – Hebrew for “who is like God”
Michelle (Shelly, Chelle, Mich, Mica, Elle, Ella) – French for “gift from God”
Melissa (Liss, Lissa, Mel, Mellie, Missy) – Greek for “bee”
Miranda (Mira, Missy, Andie, Annie, Andy) – Latin for “worthy of admiration”
Madeline (Maddie, Maddy, Lynn, Ada, Addie) – Latin for “of Magdala” (referring to Mary Magdalene from the Bible)
Mackenzie (Kenz, Kenzie, Mac) – Scottish (Gaelic) for “comely”
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Natasha (Nat, Nattie, Tasha) – Russian for “born on Christmas day”
Noelle (Noe, Elle, Ellie, Ella) – French for “birthday”
Nadia (Nani, Nada, Naya) – Russian for “hope”
Natalie (Nat, Nattie, Nettie, Talia, Tallie) – Latin for “birthday”
Natalia (Nat, Nati, Lia, Tali) – Latin for “born at Christmas”
Nikita (Nick, Kita, Niki, Kita) – Greek for “people’s victory”
Nicolette (Nicole, Niki, Nika, Nic, Colette) – French for “people’s victory”
Nadine (Nadi, Nads, Di) – French for “hope”
Olivia (Livia, Liv, Livvie, Ollie) – Latin for “olive tree”
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Odessa (Essa, Dessa, Odie, Ada) – Greek for “wrathful”
Ophelia (Effie, Phelia, O, Felia) – Greek for “help”
Octavia (Ava, Avie, Avia, Tav, Tavi) – Latin for “born eighth”
Oriana (Ora, Orri, Orrie) – Latin for “sunrise” Italian for “golden”
Penelope (Nell, Poppy, Pippa, Lola, Penny) – Greek meaning “weaver”
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Paisley (Pai, Paisy, Pais) – Scottish meaning “church, cemetary”
Payton (Pay, Pey) – English for “from the fighter’s farm”
Phoebe (Fee, Pheebs) – Greek for “bright and shining”
Paulina (Pauli, Pollie, Poll, Lina) – Latin for “small”
Prudence (Pru) – Latin for “good judgement”
Quincey (Quinn, Cy) – English for “fifth”
Rebecca (Beckie, Becca, Becks) – Hebrew for “join, tie, snare”
Rachel (Rach, Rae, Rachie, Chele, Shelly) – Hebrew for “ewe, female sheep”
Renee (Wren, Renny) – French for “reborn”
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Tamara (Tammy, Tam, Mara, Tara) - Hebrew for "palm tree"
Talia (Talu, Tally, Tal) - Hebrew for "dew from Heaven"
Ululani (Lani) - Hawaiian for "inspired by Heaven; heavenly grove"
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Ulyana (Uly, Ana) - Russian for "youthful, downy"
Victoria (Tori, Vicky, Vee, Vicks) - Latin for "victory, triumphant"
Vivienne (Viv, Vinnie, Vi) - French for "lively"
Valentina (Val, Tina, Lena) - Latin for "strong, healthy"
Vanessa (Ness, Nessa, Van, V) - Greek for "butterfly"
Veronica (Vera, Roni, Nika) - Latin for "true image"
Willow (Will, Willa, Lo) - English for "slender, graceful"
Winter (Winny, Win) - English for "born in the winter"
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Winona (Winnie, Winna, Nona, Nonnie) - Sioux for "first-born daughter"
Winnefred (Win, Winni) - Welsh for "fair one; white and smooth"
Yvonne (Eve, Evee, Evie, Vonna, Vonnie) - French for "yew"
Yohana (Hannah, Ohanna, Anna) - Hebrew for "God is gracious"
Zaidee (Zai, Dee, Aidy) - Arabic for "dazzling, splendor"
Zinnia (Zin, Nia) - Hebrew for "worthy, to be praised"
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BABY GIRL NAME WITH A NICKNAME
Choosing the right baby name was probably one of the hardest things we had to do during pregnancy (I wish I was joking!)
Here are a couple of pointers that I found useful when picking the RIGHT baby girl name for our babies.
Make sure that you choose a name where you LOVE the nickname that goes along with it. I promise that you will be using their nickname much more frequently than their full name, and you are still giving them options in case they hate it. 😉
Choose a SIMPLE spelling for whatever name you decide to go with. We, unfortunately, went with something mildly complicated. It's not as bad as some name spelling choices I see - but the doctor still mixes it up most of the time.
Related: Two Syllable Girl Names
If you don't want them to have to explain the name everywhere they go - make it simple.
Make sure the name isn't famous because of something or someone not-so-great. This was the case for one of the names we were thinking of. Talk with friends or family about your name ideas, because they're often the ones that will remember associations you don't want to be made with your new bundle-o-joy.
WRAPPING UP CHOOSING THE RIGHT BABY GIRL NAME WITH A NICKNAME
My partner and I are extremely indecisive, so we had a lot of trouble coming to a final decision. With our second daughter, we didn't have a cute baby name picked out until we were getting ready to leave the hospital.
And you know what?
That was ok.
Do what feels right and remember if you don't like it, you can always change it later. 😉
Madi says
Carleen does not mean “man” in German and I don’t believe it ever did. (I’ve studied Old high German and other early variations)
Audrey says
Madi – if you do a quick Google search you will find the opposite is actually true. Keep in mind, most names have numerous origins and meanings associated with them.
Anonymous says
Love the names
Audrey says
Thanks! I like them too. 🙂