Nickname Baby Names

Nickname baby names take the cozy, familiar shortened form of a classic name — the version friends and family would call you anyway — and use it as the given name itself. Parents love them because they arrive already warm, easygoing and full of personality, with none of the formality a longer name can carry.

What makes a name a “nickname name”?

These are names that started life as a pet form of something longer — think Maggie for Margaret or Archie for Archibald — but have become confident, standalone choices. Names like Evie and Sonny carry that same friendly, diminutive charm right from the start.

Nickname names for girls

Girls’ nickname names lean playful and warm: Maisie, Lizzie, Susie and Cassie all have that easy, well-loved feel, while Coco and Gabby add a bit of spark.

Nickname names for boys

On the boys’ side, Sonny and Archie have become genuine favorites, and Rick, Kam and Hutch bring a similarly relaxed, friendly energy.

Using a nickname as a first name

Choosing a nickname name outright — rather than a formal name you plan to shorten later — means your child grows up with the name you actually intend to call them. It’s a simple way to skip the “which nickname will stick” guessing game altogether.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.