Whether your little Sadie is buttoned up Sarah, modern Mercedes, or anything else in between, nicknames are often an integral part of the name decision process, and they provide a backup for all personalities. Maybe Mercedes is a bit more of the Mary type. Or Sarah fits the spunky nature of Sally to a T. Either way, finding names with nickname potential can be necessary for some families for this very reason. But what if you fall in love with a nickname like Sadie, but despise the traditional full form, Sarah? Or adore Leo, but think Leonardo is a bit too much name for your little boy. Below, I’ve listed some offbeat full names for trending nicknames Addie, Gus, Ellie, and Leo in the case the default full names aren’t your cup of tea.
Addie
As Addison started to descend from her peak popularity of #11 in 2007, I would assume that her obvious short form Addie would slowly fall out of use with her. However, this wasn’t the case. Addie has gained massively in popularity in the past couple years despite Addison dropping to #35 in 2018 because of Adeline/Adalyn, a vintage revival that sounds perfectly current and feminine. But if both feel too trendy, here are some other adorable appellations that can easily shorten to Addie.
Ada- Ada is tailored but underused, and a sweetly vintage way to get to Addie.
Adella- Parents have been crazy about both the Ad- sound and the -ella for decades now, yet this flowy and feminine treasure has gone practically untouched.
Adair- This feisty route to Addie is surprisingly undercover.
Adelaide- Just pushing the edge of the 300s as of 2018, Adelaide isn’t unheard of, but there certainly won’t be four in your daughter’s kindergarten classroom.
Ariadne- Thanks to Game of Thrones, the default nickname for this mythological moniker may be Aria, but Addie will work just as well.
Gus
With the resurgence of August came this spunky short form that now seems to be all over baby naming forums. Gus seems right for a baby or a grown man, and August is both handsome and soft. But as August hit #170 in 2018 SSA data, people started searching for alternatives to this trending appellation, including Augustus, an elaboration of August. But even this alternative lingers at #460, which can be a bit too common for comfort with some expecting couples. However, I’ve listed below some more obscure ways to get to this trendy nickname.
Angus- Although the images of old men and beef surrounding this name aren’t necessarily pleasant, it does allow for the nickname Gus. Or Annie for a boy!
Gustav- The Gus at the beginning enforces the nickname even more than August or Angus.
Fergus- Since Fergie isn’t quite the most desirable short form, Gus is a great nickname for this vintage gem.
Augustin- This Greek variant of August has all the charm and strength with none of the popularity.
Ellie
With Eleanor making her way back up the charts, it's no surprise that Ellie is accompanying her. But at #32, Eleanor feels too safe of a choice for those of us who try to avoid the top 50 when choosing a baby name. Thankfully, the -el sound is in abundance in every style and length of name, so you're guaranteed to find the perfect full name for Ellie, no matter what your naming tastes. Below are a variety of full names for Ellie in every style, length, and obscurity.
Ellery- The surname-like quality that is becoming incredibly popular recently smooshes Emery and Ellie to create this moniker meaning “island with elder trees.”
Elodie- Pronounced Ella-Dee, this French beauty can stand alone or with the nickname Ellie.
Elise- If the traditional factor of Eleanor appeals, but the popularity doesn’t, Elise provides a slightly less mainstream way to Ellie at #176.
Luella- If Lulu doesn’t quite hit the mark, Ellie can be a more grown-up alternative nickname for this vintage delight.
Estelle- Ellie fits perfectly as a nickname for the mystical Estelle, and an alternative to the more popular Stella.
Leo
Leo is one of the many ends in -o boys’ names that are taking the baby name world by storm, and he’s already reached #50 as of 2018, the most recent data. However, there is a reason that Leo as a full name is so popular. His default full names aren’t super stylish. Napoleon and Leonardo feel just a tad too renaissance for a boy today in many parents’ eyes, and as a result, Leo is becoming accepted as a first name. Despite this, many people do still want a longer first name for the nickname Leo, which is where this list comes in. Below is a list of some up-to-date alternatives to Leonardo, Leonidas, and Napoleon that can all result in the nickname Leo.
Leon- Tack an N onto Leo and you get… Leon! A trimmed down version of clunky Leonidas, Leon feels modern, sleek, and strong.
Elliot- Although you would assume that Elliot is nickname-proof, Lio or Leo can definitely be a nickname for this surname due to the three letters found in the middle of the name.
Lionel- Lionel feels handsome and familiar, but certainly not popular, making it a great way to get to Leo.
Emilio- The ending of this romantic appellation makes it perfect for the nickname Leo or Lio.
If you’ve been loving a nickname but not the first name, I hope that these lists helped you explore more options and routes to the short forms you adore. If I haven’t covered a nickname you would love to know some more options for, just submit my form to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Would you use one of these names? How much do nicknames matter to you? Let me know in the comments below!
In our family, the nicknames are ever changing. I never would have dreamt when naming my two, the nicknames we would later come up with!