You probably know a Matthew or two, and he probably is always called Matt. The same probably goes for Debra, who is usually called Debbie. Some names have pet forms (or "nicknames" as they are called today, although that term originally indicated a name based on appearance or other characteristic such as "shorty" or "scooter.") that are often used, and some have fallen into obscurity. For example, how many Rogers today are called Hodge? Some names have multiple nicknames, like Elizabeth, with Betty, Betsy, Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Libby, Lily, Liza, Eliza, Lisa, Bess, Bessie, etc. If you are looking for a name with no nickname possibilities, visit our No-Nickname Names page. Today many children are given names that formerly were pet forms of longer names, like Jenny, Katie, or Frank. This saves them the trouble of having to correct every teacher, new employer, doctor, etc. as to what they like to be called. However, many people think that long forms of names are better in the long run, because they sound more formal and business-like. Which sounds more influential, Senator Lizzie Jackson or Senator Elizabeth Jackson? Would you rather have your appendectomy performed by Dr. Ricky Hanson, or Dr. Richard Hanson? Long forms of names also give more choices as to what a child would like to be called. I know Elizabeths who, at times, have gone by Elizabeth, Lizzie, Leeza, or Liz, depending on their mood or life situation. Lastly, maybe you love the name Abby, but can't stand the name Abigail. Maybe you want to name your son after his grandad, Mel, but can't stand the name Melvin. Many nicknames formerly considered "Stuffy" and "old" are starting to sound fresh and new again. Here are some choices, both traditional and modern (some may be "stretching it" a bit) to get you thinking about nicknames! Click here for Boys' Nicknames. Nicknames for Girls Pet Form Long Forms Abby/Abbie Abigail, Habiba, Abra, Arabella Addie Addison, Adele, Adelaide, Adeline, Adela, Adrianne/a Aggie Agatha, Agata, Agnessa, Agnes, Morag, Agneta, August, Augustine/a Alex Alexandria, Alexandra, Alexis, Alexia, Alexa Allie/Ali Allison, Alexandra, Alice, Alyssa, Alessia, Alessandra, Alana Andi(e) Andrea, Andromeda, Miranda, Amanda, Adeline Angel Angela, Angelina, Angelica, Angelise, Mariangeli, Angelique Annie Ann(e), Anna, Annabel, Annelise, Anneke/Anika etc. (although this is technically a nn for Anna), Annette, Anita, Ariana Belle Isabel(la), Arabella, Eliabel, Bella, Maribel, Belinda Beth Elizabeth, Lisbeth, Bethany, Bethan Bette, Betty Bernadette, Elizabeth, Elizabeta, Elspeth, Lizbet, Bethany, Bethan, Betony Billie Willa, Wilhelmina, Willamina, Willemette Bobbi Barbara, Roberta, Babette, Robin Brie/Bree Brenda, Britta, Gabrielle/a, Briana, Bria, Bridget, Bretta, Brenna, Sabrina Caddie/Caddy Caroline (traditional), Carolyn Callie Calista, Calantha, Calandra, Camila, Camille, Carmel, Carmela, Caroline, Calla Cammy Carmel, Carmela, Cameron, Camila, Camille Candy Candace, Kendall Carly, Carlie Caroline, Carolyn, Clarissa Carrie/Kari Caroline, Carolyn, Karensa, Karina, Carmen, Carson Casey Cassandra, Catesby, something with the initials K.C. Cassie Cassandra, Catherine, Cassidy, Cassia, Jocasta, Carson Christie/Krissi etc. Christina, Christine, Kristin, Christiana, Crystal, Crystelle, Chrysanthemum Cissy Cecilia, Cecile, Cecily, Frances Coco Nicole, Nicolette, Colette, Cora, Colleen Connie Constance, Corinne, Concetta Cori/Cory Corinne, Corina, Coriander, Coral, Cora, Coralise, Corazón, Coralie, Cordelia, Cornelia, Coretta Dani Danielle, Daniela, Dana, Danica, Sheridan Ellie/Elle/Ella Eleanor(e), Eleanora, Elaine, Eileen, Elizabeth, Eliabel, Isabelle/a, Gabrielle/a, Giselle, Michelle, Eloise, Ellery, Noelle Elsie Elizabeth (trad), Elsa, Elspeth, Elisa, Elise, Ellison, Elysia, Eloise Emmy Emily, Emma, Emeline, Emilia, Embeth, Ember, Emerson, Emery Evie Eve, Eva, Evelyn, Eveline, Evadne, Heaven, Evyn Fran/Frankie/Fanny Frances, Francesca, Franca, Francisca Ginny Virginia, Genevieve, Ginevera Gussie August, Augusta, Augustina, Gustava Hallie Helena, Harriet, Hazel, Harmony Hattie Harriet, Henrietta Hettie, Hedy Henrietta, Heather, Hedwig, Harriet, Hester Jackie Jacqueline, Johanna, Joan Jacy Jacinta, something with the initials J.C. Janie Jane, Janet, Janette, Janine, Jayna Jenny Genevieve, Jennifer, Jane (traditionally Jenny was a nn for Jane), Ginevera, Geneva, Jensen, Genesis Jeri/Geri Geraldine, Jerrica, Jerusha Jessie Jessa, Jessica, Jessamine Jo, Joey, Josie Johanna, Joanne, Joelle, Jospehine, Josefina, Jocasta (for the daring only!), Jorinda, Jocelyn Joss Jocelyn, Josephine, Josefina Kate/Katie/Cady Catherine, Katarina, Katrina, Catesby, Katelyn, Cadence, Arcadia Kaylee/Kayli etc. Michaela/Mikayla, Kayla, Kayleen, Kayliana Kelly Kellan, Raquel, Kalani Leigh/Lee/Leelee Kimberly, Leanne, Liana, Everly, Presley, Talia, Melia, Ainsley, anything with a -lee in it! Libby Elizabeth (trad), Olivia, Liberty Lily Lilian, Liliana, Lilia, Lilibelle, Lila, Delilah, Lilith, Elizabeth (used in the 19th cen.) Lola Lorena, Dolores (trad), Lourdes, Paloma, Lois Loni/Lani Leilani, Lana, Alana Lucy Lucinda, Lucille, Lucilla, Lucia, Luz Maddy/Mattie Madeline, Madeleine, Madison, Mattea, Meredith, Matilda, Martha, Marta Maggie Margaret (traditional), Megan, Megara, Magdalen, Magdalena Maisie Mary (trad), Margaret, Mariah, Maria, Marie Mamie Mary (trad), Margaret, Mame Marlie/Marley Marilyn, Marjolein, Marielle, Mariel, Marilla Marnie Marion, Mariana, Marianne, Marina, Xiomara, Meredith Marti Martina, Martine, Marta Mel Melanie, Melania, Melora, Melody, Melinda, Carmela, Carmel Micki Michelle, Michaela/Mikayla etc., Micheline Millie Camilla, Camille, Mildred, Millicent, Melanie, Melania, Jamila, Marilla Mimi Mary (trad), Jemima, Miriam, Mireille, Mireia, Miranda Minnie Philomena, Mary (trad), Melina, Jessamin, Jasmine, Minerva, Amina, Dominica, Dominique Molly Mary (trad.), Melora, Maura, Maureen, Melia, Amalia, Amaltheia, Mallory Nattie Nadine, Natalia, Natalie, Renata Nell, Nelly Ellen (trad.), Eleanor (trad), Penelope, Eliane/a, Elisa Nettie Annette, Antoinette, Ninette, Lynnette, Anita Nikki, Nicki Nicole, Nicolette, Nicola, Veronica, Dominica, Dominique, Monica, Phoenix Nina Antonina, Angelina Polly Mary (trad.), Paula, Pauline, Paulina Rae Raelyn, Raelene, Rayanne/a, Raechelle, Rayna/Raina/Reina, Rachel, Desiree, Raven Ricki Erica, Jerica, Richelle Romy Rosemary, Rosemarie, Romana, Romera Rose/Rosie Rosalind, Rosa, Rosalie, Rosemarie, Rosemary Sadie Sarah (traditional), Mercedes, Sarai, Sarina Sally Sarah (trad), Salome, Sarina, Salena Sam, Sammie Samantha, Samara Shelby Michelle, Rachelle, Rochelle Sophie Sophia, Sophronia Sukie, Zuzu Susan (trad), Susanna, Suzanne, Suzette, Zuleika, Sureia, Surya Teri Teresa, Terena, Tersia, Tara Tess(ie) Teresa, Tessa, Thessaly, Tilly Matilda, Talia, Thalia, Taylor Tina Bettina, Christina, Martina Viv Vivian, Viviana, Aviva, Genevieve Click here for Boys' Nicknames