Vintage nicknames are in a league all their own. With beautiful old-timey energy and a certain liveliness and youthful touch, some of my own favorites or nicknames for my favorites find themselves on this list. Today, I’m taking a look at some sweet and sassy nicknames from the past that feel ready for revival in the next few years for little girls. Whether you’re searching for a full name for your favorite nickname, or trying to find a sister to a vintage nickname crew, this list of adorable and brief mini monikers with a retro vibe will be of use. I hope you enjoy this article, and let’s begin looking into some cutesy vintage nicknames for girls!
Birdie- And let’s begin with a staple of the older nickname choices that are flooding back into style: Birdie. An every-woman name in the 1880s with brief nicknames as names in full swing and crawling all over playgrounds, Birdie once was passed by as an old lady name with strange connections to the natural world, but now, many parents are finally seeing her cheerful and positive beauty. The peaceful and optimistic sounds of birds chirping and the unique -Bir beginning sets Birdie apart, yet she melts into Sadie and friends seamlessly with just the slightest rare kick. She’s a celebaby favorite, chosen by Busy Phillips and Maura West for their daughters, in honor of First Lady Johnson, who was lovingly referred to as “Lady Bird.” Although she doesn’t rank in the top 1000 in a single country yet, this Elizabeth diminutive is still feeling the love. Possibly short for Beatrice, if you want to continue the vintage vibe, or Elizabeth, if you would prefer a more classic fallback for your little Birdie.
Hettie- Hattie has proved to hit it out of the park in terms of forum and trend recognition, which leads me to believe that Hettie shouldn’t be far behind to hop on the trend train of her sister name. A clunky possibility that is starting to shift into feeling cool again, this Henrietta diminutive ranks at #596 in England, but fails to appear on charts anywhere else in the world. However, Britain is known for its nicknames-as-full-names preferences, so that isn’t entirely surprising. And Hettie gaining in Britain paves the way for Americans to notice its English charm and pick it out for their own children. Since she’s derived from the feminine variation of the male name Henry (which has become incredibly popular), Hettie means “estate ruler,” which could represent strength and leadership for some parents. Henrietta, Heather, or Harriett might be nice full forms if you’re not the type to put Hettie on the birth certificate.
Gwen- Gwendolyn ranks at #514, so not quite even familiar to many families quite yet, and her shorter, more spunky nickname, Gwen ranks at an even lower #832, so I think it’s safe to say that Gwen isn’t exactly soaring quite yet. However, I think she has all of the potential in the world to do so. She’s spunky, sassy, and has an offbeat sound that makes her feel all the more unique and different. An adorable name that feels sweet as a diminutive, but Gwen still feels perfectly capable of standing on her own. Gwendolyn isn’t vital to a little Gwen, and the name could grow to suit multiple ages, and I think Gwen could stand in front of a jury or mandate an army without her name being a burden. Gwen means “white,” and comes from the Welsh name Gwendolen, a solid offbeat classic. Another full name that a little Gwen may have is the dramatic Guinevere, which is all the more rare if you enjoy the obscurity of Gwen but long for a full form as well.
Ruthie- And this one is obviously for Ruth. But if Ruth is lacking a little sparkle, and yet you still are aching to commemorate Grandma Ruth? Ruthie! With Ruth Bader Ginsberg an appealing role model for many parents and their daughters as they pore over name lists, Ruthie is an adorable modern day update that feels classic, but not in a Catherine or Elizabeth sort of way. Ruth is a Hebrew name that means “compassionate friend,” a truly heartwarming gift of a meaning to bestow upon a child. A vintage nickname that feels less childish than Birdie but less “boring” than Ruth, Ruthie balances a family torn between Margaret and Sadie, and bridges the gap between modern day trends and names rooted in tradition.
Minnie- Millie and Winnie are probably the poster names for this entire trend, and yet, the beloved sounds of a two-in-one success combined has been horribly overlooked. Minnie does remain ruined for many by the pink polka-dotted mouse, but now that Millie and Winnie are soaring, Minnie might have a ticket out of being trapped in Disneyville and explore being a favorite for young girls as she once did in the 19th century. She’s technically a derivative of Minerva, which means “mind,” but Minerva may be slightly hard for a young child to wear, especially one today. (Although a wonderful character or middle name option) So, I would recommend Araminta or Jasmine for a full name for Minnie that feels like it carries more modern day potential.
Betty- The 80s were a hot time for -elle. Michelle, Rochelle, Danielle, and just plain Shelly swarmed kindergartens and playgrounds all over the US and Europe. Now, -ette/-etta is the “it” ending. Violet, Juliette, Scarlett, and even Harriett are getting a big lift up the popularity charts thanks to that briskly feminine ending. So why not Betty? She has the much sought after -ett, and feels vintage and bright, perfect for a revival. And then Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Taylor Swift had a lovely and sweet reveal of Ryan and Blake’s daughter Betty’s name through Taylor’s new album, Folklore, which left the thought of Betty as a modern and trendy option at the forefront of parent’s minds. Because Betty is a short form of Elizabeth, she means “pledged to God,” a wonderful meaning if your religious beliefs align with that meaning. I love her as a nickname for Beatrice, but Elizabeth is also a fitting full name choice.
Flossie- Florence is surprisingly absent from the Top 1000, but that’s a fact I believe won’t stay true for very long. Florence is stunning, with adorable short forms, one of which is Flossie. Now I know you must have an image of a sterile plastic box with some mint flavored string wound up inside, but you must first consider Flossie’s sound before jumping to any dental conclusions. Flossie is far too cutesy for me to recommend her as a stand alone name, especially since the rare yet beautiful Florence awaits, but as a childhood nickname? Absolutely, you bet! With a sweet and almost fairy-like nickname that is just too sweet for words, Felicity, Florence, or Flora could serve as a striking full form to accompany this adorable little short form. Flossie also means “prosperous,” which just strengthens my love for her, and I think it’s a wonderful choice if paired with a formal full name option.
Billie- Billie went from an outdated William nickname to a cutesy female form of Wilhelmina in the early 1900s to a teen music sensation and cheery tomboy girl name. Billie feels just as springy and joyful as Lillie or Millie, but she has a more unisex and tomboyish undertone that screams for parent’s attention. With all eyes on Billie Eilish, Billie won’t stay unnoticed for long, and I’ll suspect that Billie’s main audience, couples searching for modern names in the same style realm as Harper or Quinn, won’t settle for Wilhelmina over just plain Billie herself. Either Billie will soar as just a nickname style name, or parents will find a full name alternative to Wilhelmena. This retro revival means “resolute protector,” and will most definitely continue to bounce up the ranks.
I hope you enjoyed these adorable vintage nickname names for baby girls! If you have any suggestions for other articles or would love to see this for boys, I’d be glad to receive your feedback through my “contact” form.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Do you like vintage nicknames? Which one’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
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