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Nicknames as Great First Names


What's up namers? Today we take a look at nicknames. 

A hot trend we are seeing in 2021 is that nicknames make great first names. I remember when Kenzie, The Pie's cousin was born and everyone was like, "just Kenzie?' Yes. JUST Kenzie! That was 15 years ago, and now, more than ever we are seeing those shorties as the given name.


There are of course names that have soooo many possibilities, like as in Elizabeth with: 
Liz
Liza
Eliza
Beth
Betta
Betty
Etta

And we adore Eleanor going by Elle, Ella, Nora, Nori and such... but today we've got a collection of JUST the short part!

On our Pinterest page, posts like this that show some short names get a lot of love:





Cal
Perhaps once short for Calvin or Callahan, maybe Callum or classic Caleb now Cal is a nickname taking a leap up the charts as a given name. Cal rose over 200 spots in 2020 to pop inside the Top 100, according to the SSA Change in Popularity Chart.

Ace
Since 2006 Ace has climbed from #841 to #199. The coolest one we saw IRL was a cutie named Wallace who would go by Ace. It seems that it comes originally from Alexander, but hey~ this list is all about GIVING the name as a first, not just using it. I think we might be able to thank Jessica Simpson for leading the way with this one back in 2013.

Lu and Lou
Neither have broken into the Top 1000 yet, but this pair do fit this trend and we'd like to give them a boost. Think how sweet a Little Lou - just Lou, could be!

Bo
Coming in at #567 in 2020 we think this perfect nickname as a given name will continue to rise.

Beau
Ready to break into the Top 100 on the boy's side, spelling it Beau rocks the chart at #109. Roberts have been called this, or it could be short for Beaufort or Beauregard, but we think JUST Beau is super cool.

Archie
I grew up with an Uncle Archie, his last name being Archibald. But this hot given name rose 207 spots from 2019 to 2020. I'm sure being given to a royal baby didn't hurt. 

Dash
Taking a bit of a dip from '19 to '20 this one is still fresh and cool, but we aren't quite sold on if it is better suited for a superhero kiddo, a new puppy or a little boy.

Here are a few more for the boys that haven't broken the Top 1000, but we think could!

Sal
Bax
Buddy
Lex
Alpha
Fitz
Lucky
Ash

Lo
There are SO many sweet names for girls that start with Lo.  Think Lola or Lorelai. We first heard it on reality TV where it was short for Lauren. I was determined to name a little sis to The Pie with anything I could make into Lo. (No sis came:) But I'll always adore Lolette and Lois.  We think that Lo could work for Chloe and Willow, even Penelope or Melody. But JUST Lo works of course!

Honey
A handful of celebrities have just gone right ahead and used it as a given. Jack Nicholson for one. We see it as a middle occasionally too. Apparently overseas it is used more often than in the U.S.

Ette or Etta
Our absolute favorite! It is everywhere we look. The Etta spelling is on the rise three years now, and we see it continuing to climb.  Romantic, dainty, yet it feels fresh, cool and new. 

Here are a few more for the girls that haven't broken the Top 1000, but we think could!

Jo
Dolly
Love
Trixie
Mere
Sugar
Goldie

What do you think? 
What are some nicknames that would stand as a given name?



Oh and when you have a chance~ check out our Baby Name Videos!










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