Historical nickname list

Every nickname in our records dataset, with the formal names it stood for, the era it was in use, and where. 468 nicknames map to 629 formal names. It is sorted alphabetically, so you can scan for the spelling in front of you, or search below to jump straight to one name.

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All 468 nicknames and what they stood for

Formal names are ordered most likely first. Era and region record where the mapping is attested, not the only place it ever appeared.
NicknameStood forEraWhereUsed forNotes
AbbieAbigail1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleStandard short form of Abigail; occasionally an independent given name by the late 1800s.
AbbyAbigail1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Abigail.
AbeAbraham, Abram, Abel, Abiel1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Abraham; also Abram and the biblical Abel/Abiel.
AdaAdelaide, Adeline, Adela1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort for Adelaide/Adeline, but very often given as an independent name in the 19th c.
AddieAdelaide, Adeline, Adele, Adaline, Ada1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleCovers the whole Adel- cluster.
AggieAgnes, Agatha, Augusta1700s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishFemaleChiefly Agnes; also Agatha.
AlAlbert, Alfred, Alexander, Allen, Alan, Alphonso1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherOverwhelmingly male; rarely Alberta/Alice for a woman.
AlecAlexander1700s-1900sBritish, Scottish, AmericanMaleScottish/northern short form of Alexander.
AleckAlexander1700s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishMalePhonetic spelling of Alec.
AlexAlexander, Alexis, Alexandra1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale (Alexander) far more common in historical records; Alexandra for a woman.
AlfAlfred1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Alfred.
AlfieAlfred1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanMalePet form of Alfred.
AllieAlice, Alexandra, Alberta, Alma, Alison1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleFemale uses; a man's Allie is usually Albert/Alonzo.
AmyAmelia, Amabel1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleSometimes a short form of Amelia, but usually an independent name from Old French Amee.
AndyAndrew1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Andrew.
AngieAngeline, Angelina, Angela1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAngeline/Angelina were the common 19th-c. formal forms; Angela is later.
AnnieAnn, Anna, Anne, Antoinette1800s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleUbiquitous pet form; often recorded as the given name itself.
ArchieArchibald1800s-1900sScottish, British, AmericanMaleShort form of Archibald; strongly Scottish.
ArtArthur1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Arthur.
ArtieArthur1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Arthur.
AugieAugust, Augustus, Augustine1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantMaleCommon among German-American families (August).
BabBarbara1700s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleOlder short form of Barbara; also spelled Babb.
BabsBarbara1900sAmerican, BritishFemale20th-c. pet form of Barbara.
BarneyBernard, Barnabas, Barnaby1800s-1900sAmerican, Irish, BritishMaleChiefly Bernard; also Barnabas. Common Irish.
BartBartholomew1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Bartholomew.
BatBartholomew1600s-1800sBritish, American, IrishMaleOlder short form of Bartholomew.
BeaBeatrice, Beatrix1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Beatrice/Beatrix.
BeckyRebecca1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleStandard pet form of Rebecca.
BeeBeatrice, Bridget1800s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleBeatrice; among Irish families sometimes Bridget.
BellIsabella, Isabel, Arabella1700s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishFemaleFrom the -bel/-bella ending, not from a 'Bell' root.
BellaIsabella, Arabella, Isabel, Belinda, Mabel1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAny -bella name; Isabella most common.
BelleIsabella, Isabel, Arabella, Belinda1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAlso given independently ('beauty') in the 19th c.
BenBenjamin, Benedict1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleOverwhelmingly Benjamin.
BennyBenjamin, Benedict1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Benjamin.
BertAlbert, Herbert, Gilbert, Bertram, Egbert, Hubert, Robert1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleOne of the widest fan-outs: any -bert name. Albert most common in US/UK records.
BertieAlbert, Herbert, Bertram, Alberta, Bertha, Roberta1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanEitherMale (Albert/Herbert) or female (Alberta/Bertha).
BessElizabeth1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleClassic short form of Elizabeth.
BessieElizabeth1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Elizabeth; frequently the recorded given name.
BethElizabeth, Bethany1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Elizabeth; Bethany is a later source.
BetsyElizabeth1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleVery common short form of Elizabeth in early America.
BettElizabeth1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleOlder short form of Elizabeth.
BetteElizabeth, Bettina1900sAmerican, BritishFemale20th-c. short form of Elizabeth.
BettyElizabeth1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Elizabeth; an independent name by the mid-1900s.
BiddyBridget1700s-1900sIrish, American, BritishFemaleIrish pet form of Bridget.
BillWilliam1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleThe rhyming-substitution short form of Will/William.
BillieWilliam, Wilhelmina, Willa1900sAmericanEitherMale (William) or female (Wilhelmina/Willa).
BillyWilliam1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of William.
BirdieBertha, Roberta, Alberta1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleAn affectionate form, most often attached to Bertha; also used on its own.
BobRobert1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleRhyming-substitution short form of Rob/Robert.
BobbyRobert1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Robert; Bobbie also used for Roberta.
BramAbraham, Bertram1700s-1900sBritish, Dutch-immigrant, AmericanMaleChiefly Abraham (Dutch/English); occasionally Bertram.
BurtBurton, Albert, Herbert, Egbert1800s-1900sAmericanMaleOften Burton in its own right; also a -bert name.
CalCalvin, Caleb1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Calvin; also Caleb.
CallieCaroline, Calista, Cordelia, Carolina1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleCommon Southern-US pet form, chiefly of Caroline.
CarrieCaroline, Carolyn, Charlotte1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Caroline; occasionally Charlotte.
CassCassandra, Catherine, Caroline1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Cassandra.
CassieCassandra, Catherine, Caroline, Acacia1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Cassandra; also Catherine.
CateCatherine, Katherine1600s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleOlder spelling of Kate.
CathyCatherine, Katherine, Cathleen, Kathleen1900sAmerican, BritishFemale20th-c. short form of Catherine.
CeliaCecilia, Cecelia, Celeste1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Cecilia; also an independent name.
CharleyCharles, Charlotte1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherUsually male (Charles); Charley/Charlie for Charlotte too.
CharlieCharles, Charlotte1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherChiefly Charles; also a woman's Charlotte.
ChasCharles1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleStandard scribal abbreviation of Charles, not a spoken nickname.
ChetChester1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Chester.
ChrisChristopher, Christian, Christine, Christina, Christiana1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale (Christopher/Christian) or female (Christina/Christine).
ChristieChristopher, Christina, Christine1700s-1900sScottish, British, AmericanEitherScottish; male Christopher or female Christina.
ChristyChristopher, Christina, Christian1700s-1900sScottish, Irish, AmericanEitherScottish/Irish variant of Christie.
ChuckCharles1900sAmericanMale20th-c. American pet form of Charles.
CillaPriscilla, Cecilia1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleChiefly Priscilla.
CindyCynthia, Lucinda, Cinderella1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Cynthia; historically also Lucinda.
CissyCecilia, Frances, Priscilla, Clarissa1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAlso a generic pet name for a small girl; spelled Cissie/Sissy.
ClarrieClarence, Clara, Clarice, Clarissa1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanEitherMale Clarence or female Clara/Clarice.
ClausNicholas, Nicolaus, Klaus1700s-1900sGerman-immigrant, Dutch-immigrant, AmericanMaleGerman/Dutch short form of Nicholas (Nikolaus).
CliffClifford, Clifton1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Clifford/Clifton.
ClintClinton1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Clinton.
ConCornelius, Conrad, Constantine, Constance1700s-1900sIrish, American, German-immigrantEitherIrish Con is Cornelius; German Con is Conrad; female Con is Constance.
ConnieConstance, Cornelia, Cornelius, Conrad, Consuelo1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherUsually female (Constance/Cornelia); male Cornelius/Conrad.
CordyCordelia1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleShort form of Cordelia.
CornieCornelius, Cornelia1800s-1900sAmerican, Dutch-immigrantEitherCornelius (m) or Cornelia (f).
CreasyLucretia1700s-1800sAmericanFemalePhonetic short form of Lucretia in early US records.
CurtCurtis, Conrad1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantMaleCurtis; German Kurt is a form of Conrad.
CyCyrus, Silas, Josiah, Cyril1700s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Cyrus; also Silas/Josiah in early records.
DaisyMargaret, Marguerite1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleVictorian flower-name pet form of Margaret, because the French 'marguerite' is the daisy flower -- a link researchers rarely guess. Often given independently by the 1900s.
DanDaniel1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Daniel.
DannyDaniel1800s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishMalePet form of Daniel.
DaveDavid1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of David.
DavyDavid1700s-1900sBritish, Welsh, AmericanMalePet form of David; Welsh Dai is related.
DebDeborah1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Deborah.
DebbieDeborah1900sAmerican, BritishFemale20th-c. pet form of Deborah.
DelDelbert, Delano, Adela, Della, Delia1800s-1900sAmericanEitherMale Delbert/Delano or a female Adel- name.
DeliaBridget, Cordelia, Adelia, Fidelia, Bedelia1800s-1900sIrish, AmericanFemaleAmong Irish families Delia is a well-known stand-in for Bridget (via Bedelia); elsewhere Cordelia/Adelia.
DellaAdela, Adelaide, Adeline, Delilah, Cordelia1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly the Adel- cluster.
DelphiaPhiladelphia, Delphine, Adelphia1700s-1800sAmericanFemalePhiladelphia was a genuine female given name in colonial/early-US records; Delphia/Delphy is its clip.
DiDiana, Diane, Dinah1700s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleShort form of Diana.
DickRichard1500s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleRhyming-substitution short form of Rick/Richard (Rick -> Dick).
DickieRichard1700s-1900sBritish, AmericanMalePet form of Richard.
DobRobertmedieval-1600sBritishMaleMedieval rhyming form of Rob (Robert); rare in later records but survives in surnames (Dobbs, Dobson).
DodieDorothy, Dolores1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Dorothy.
DollDorothy1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleOlder pet form of Dorothy (Dorothy -> Doll -> Dolly).
DollyDorothy, Dorothea1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Dorothy; Dolley Madison was born Dolley.
DoraDorothy, Theodora, Isadora, Eudora, Dorothea, Pandora1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAny -dora name; often given independently.
DosiaTheodosia1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleClip of Theodosia; also spelled Doshia/Doshie.
DotDorothy1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Dorothy.
DottieDorothy1900sAmericanFemalePet form of Dorothy.
DottyDorothy1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Dorothy.
DougDouglas1800s-1900sScottish, American, BritishMaleShort form of Douglas.
DrewAndrew1700s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishMaleShort form of Andrew (from the middle syllable).
EdEdward, Edwin, Edmund, Edgar1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleAny Ed- name; Edward most common.
EddieEdward, Edwin, Edmund1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of the Ed- names.
EddyEdward, Edwin, Edmund1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleVariant spelling of Eddie.
EffieEuphemia, Josephine1700s-1900sScottish, AmericanFemaleScottish; almost always Euphemia.
EliElijah, Elias, Elisha, Eliezer, Elihu1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleAny Eli- prophet name; also an independent biblical name.
ElizaElizabeth1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Elizabeth; often given as an independent name.
EllaEleanor, Ellen, Helen, Isabella, Gabriella, Luella1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAny -ella / El- name; frequently independent.
EllieEleanor, Ellen, Elizabeth, Elinor, Eleanora1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Eleanor/Ellen.
ElsieElizabeth, Elspeth, Alice, Elsa1800s-1900sScottish, American, BritishFemaleScottish Elsie is from Elspeth (Elizabeth); also given independently.
EmEmily, Emma, Emmeline, Emeline1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAny Em- name.
EmmieEmily, Emma, Emeline1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleVariant of Emmy.
EmmyEmily, Emma, Emeline, Emmeline1800s-1900sAmerican, British, German-immigrantFemalePet form of Emma/Emily.
EphEphraim1700s-1800sAmericanMaleShort form of Ephraim.
ErnieErnest, Ernestine1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherChiefly Ernest (m); Ernestine (f).
EssieEsther, Estelle, Ernestine, Estella1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Esther/Estelle.
EttaHenrietta, Loretta, Rosetta, Marietta, Antoinette, Julietta1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -etta ending; Henrietta most common.
EttieHenrietta, Harriet, Esther, Ettabelle1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Henrietta/Harriet; also spelled Etty.
EvieEvelyn, Eva, Evangeline, Genevieve, Eve1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAny Ev- name.
FanFrances, Fanny1700s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleShort form of Frances.
FannyFrances, Euphemia1700s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishFemaleChiefly Frances; in Scotland occasionally Euphemia.
FayFaith, Fayette1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleSometimes Faith, but often an independent name; spelled Faye.
FeltyValentine1700s-1800sGerman-immigrant, AmericanMalePennsylvania German short form of Valentin (Valentine) -- a classic hard-to-guess mapping.
FinaJosephine, Seraphina, Delfina1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom the -phina/-fina ending.
FloFlorence1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Florence.
FlorrieFlorence, Flora1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemalePet form of Florence.
FlossieFlorence1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Florence.
FranFrances, Francis, Francesca1900sAmerican, BritishEitherFemale Frances or male Francis.
FrankFrancis, Franklin1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Francis; also Franklin. Often an independent name.
FrankieFrancis, Frances, Franklin1800s-1900sAmericanEitherMale Francis or female Frances.
FrannyFrances, Francesca, Francis1800s-1900sAmericanEitherChiefly female Frances.
FredFrederick, Alfred, Wilfred, Frederic1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Frederick; also -fred names. Fred can also be a woman's Winifred/Frederica.
FredaWinifred, Frederica, Alfreda, Frieda1800s-1900sBritish, American, German-immigrantFemaleChiefly from Winifred; German Frieda is independent.
FreddieFrederick, Alfred, Winifred, Frederica1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Frederick or female Winifred/Frederica.
FreddyFrederick, Alfred1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Frederick.
FritzFrederick, Friedrich1700s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanMaleGerman short form of Friedrich (Frederick).
FronaSophronia1800sAmericanFemaleClip of Sophronia; also Fronia.
GabeGabriel1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Gabriel.
GailAbigail1900sAmericanFemaleFrom the tail of Abigail; became an independent name mid-1900s.
GeneEugene, Eugenia, Genevieve1800s-1900sAmericanEitherMale Eugene or female Eugenia/Genevieve.
GenieEugenia, Genevieve, Imogene, Eugenie1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFemale -genie names.
GeoGeorge1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleStandard scribal abbreviation of George, not a spoken nickname.
GeordieGeorge1700s-1900sScottish, EnglishMaleScottish / North-East England pet form of George.
GerryGerald, Gerard, Geraldine, Jerome1900sAmerican, British, IrishEitherMale Gerald/Gerard or female Geraldine; spelled Jerry too.
GertGertrude1800s-1900sAmerican, British, German-immigrantFemaleShort form of Gertrude.
GertieGertrude1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Gertrude.
GibGilbert1600s-1800sBritish, American, ScottishMaleShort form of Gilbert; survives in surname Gibson.
GilGilbert, Gilroy1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Gilbert.
GinaRegina, Georgina, Virginia, Angelina, Luigina1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -gina ending.
GingerVirginia1900sAmericanFemaleA hair-colour nickname most often standing in for Virginia.
GinnyVirginia, Guinevere1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Virginia; spelled Jinny in older records.
GladGladys1900sBritish, American, WelshFemaleShort form of Gladys (Welsh Gwladys).
GregGregory1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Gregory.
GretaMargaret, Margaretha, Margarethe1800s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanFemaleGerman short form of Margarethe (Margaret).
GretchenMargaret, Margaretha1800s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanFemaleGerman diminutive of Margarethe (Margaret).
GusAugustus, August, Gustavus, Augustine, Angus1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrant, ScottishMaleChiefly Augustus/August; Scandinavian/German Gustavus; Scots Angus.
GussieAugusta, Augustus, Augustine1800s-1900sAmericanEitherFemale Augusta or male Augustus.
GwenGwendolyn, Gwendolen, Gwenllian, Guinevere1800s-1900sWelsh, British, AmericanFemaleWelsh; any Gwen- name.
HalHenry, Harold, Harry1500s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleOld pet form of Henry (Shakespeare's Prince Hal); also Harold.
HallieHarriet, Harold, Haralda1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly from Harriet; often independent.
HamishJames1700s-1900sScottishMaleAnglicized Scottish Gaelic vocative of Seumas (James) -- unrecognizable unless you know it.
HankHenry, Hendrick, Harold1700s-1900sAmerican, Dutch-immigrantMaleAmerican pet form of Henry, reinforced by Dutch Henk/Hendrick.
HansJohannes, John, Johann1600s-1900sGerman-immigrant, Dutch-immigrant, AmericanMaleGerman/Dutch short form of Johannes (John).
HarryHenry, Harold1300s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleThe historical everyday form of Henry; an independent name by the 1800s.
HattieHarriet, Henrietta1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Harriet.
HeinieHenry, Heinrich1800s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanMaleGerman-American pet form of Heinrich (Henry).
HenHenry1700s-1800sBritish, AmericanMaleShort form of Henry.
HepsyHepzibah, Hephzibah1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleClip of the Puritan name Hepzibah; also Hepsie.
HerbHerbert1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Herbert.
HerbieHerbert1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Herbert.
HettyHester, Henrietta, Harriet, Mehitabel1700s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleChiefly Hester (Esther) or Henrietta; spelled Hettie.
HobRobertmedieval-1600sBritishMaleMedieval rhyming form of Rob (Robert); rare later but preserved in surnames (Hobbs, Hobson).
HodgeRogermedieval-1600sBritishMaleMedieval rhyming form of Roger; survives in the surname Hodges/Hodgson.
HughieHugh1700s-1900sScottish, Irish, AmericanMalePet form of Hugh; also Huey.
HyHiram, Hyman, Henry1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Hiram; among Jewish families Hyman.
IbIsabel, Isabella1600s-1700sBritishFemaleOld short form of Isabel; also Ibb.
IbbyIsabel, Isabella, Elizabeth1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemalePet form of Isabel (and, by overlap, Elizabeth).
IkeIsaac1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Isaac.
IkeyIsaac1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Isaac.
InaGeorgina, Christina, Wilhelmina, Edwina, Robina1800s-1900sScottish, American, BritishFemaleScottish; from any -ina ending, often used alone.
InezAgnes1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleSpanish form (Ines) of Agnes; appears as a given name in US records.
IzzyIsabel, Isabella, Isadora, Isaac, Isaiah, Israel, Isidore1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherAny Is- name; female (Isabel) or male (Isaac/Israel).
JackJohn, Jackson, Jacob1400s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleThe historical everyday form of John (via Jankin), not a form of Jacob in English usage.
JackieJohn, Jacqueline, Jackson, Jack1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale John or female Jacqueline.
JakeJacob, Jackson1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Jacob.
JamieJames, Jamesina1700s-1900sScottish, American, BritishEitherScottish pet form of James; a female name only in the later 1900s.
JanJohn, Janet, Jane, Janice1600s-1900sDutch-immigrant, AmericanEitherDutch Jan is male (John); English Jan is a 1900s female clip of Janet/Janice.
JeanJane, Jeanne1600s-1900sScottish, American, BritishFemaleScottish form of Jane; long an independent name. (French Jean is a man's John.)
JeannieJean, Jane, Eugenia, Jeanette1800s-1900sScottish, AmericanFemalePet form of Jean/Jane.
JedJedediah, Jedidiah1700s-1800sAmericanMaleShort form of Jedediah.
JeffJefferson, Jeffrey, Geoffrey1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Jeffrey/Geoffrey; in the US also Jefferson.
JemJames, Jemima1700s-1800sBritish, AmericanEitherMale James (Jemmy) or a woman's Jemima.
JenJane, Jennifer, Genevieve, Jenny1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleHistorically Jane; Jennifer only from the mid-1900s.
JennieJane, Jean, Virginia, Jennifer, Genevieve1800s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishFemaleIn 19th-c. records Jennie is usually Jane or Jean, NOT Jennifer.
JennyJane, Jean, Virginia, Jennifer, Guinevere1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleTraditional pet form of Jane; the Jennifer link is a modern development.
JereJeremiah, Jerome, Jeremy1700s-1800sAmerican, IrishMaleChiefly Jeremiah.
JerryJeremiah, Gerald, Gerard, Jerome, Jeremy, Geraldine1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Jeremiah/Gerald or female Geraldine; spelled Gerry.
JessJesse, Jessica, Janet, Jean1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Jesse or female Jessica/Janet.
JessieJanet, Jean, Jessica1700s-1900sScottish, American, BritishFemaleScottish Jessie is the standard pet form of Janet -- a mapping researchers routinely miss. (Male Jessie is Jesse.)
JimJames1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of James.
JimmyJames1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of James; also Jimmie.
JinnyVirginia, Jane1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleOlder spelling of Ginny/Jenny.
JnoJohn1600s-1800sAmerican, BritishMaleStandard scribal abbreviation of John (not Jonathan) -- easily misread.
JoJosephine, Joanna, Joan, Johanna, Jolene1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Josephine/Joanna; occasionally a man's Joseph.
JockJohn1600s-1900sScottishMaleScottish form of Jack (John).
JodyJoseph, Josephine, Joanna, Judith1900sAmericanEitherMale Joseph or female Josephine/Joanna.
JoeJoseph, Josephine1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Joseph; a woman's Joe is Josephine.
JoeyJoseph, Josephine1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherPet form of Joseph/Josephine.
JohnnyJohn, Jonathan1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of John; also Johnnie.
JosJoseph, Josiah, Joshua1600s-1800sAmerican, BritishMaleScribal abbreviation; usually Joseph, sometimes Josiah.
JosieJosephine, Joanna, Josepha1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Josephine.
JudeJudith, Judah1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherFemale Judith or male Judah/Jude.
JudyJudith1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Judith.
JuleJulius, Julian, Julia, Juliana1700s-1800sAmericanEitherMale Julius/Julian or female Julia; spelled Jules.
JulieJulia, Juliana, Juliet, Julienne1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Julia.
KateKatherine, Catherine, Kathleen1500s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleClassic short form of Katherine/Catherine.
KatieKatherine, Catherine, Kathleen, Kathryn1800s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemalePet form of Katherine; also Katy.
KayKatherine, Catherine, Karen1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleFrom the initial K of Katherine; often independent.
KenKenneth, Kendall, Kendrick1900sAmerican, British, ScottishMaleChiefly Kenneth.
KennyKenneth1900sAmerican, British, ScottishMalePet form of Kenneth.
KesterChristopher1500s-1700sScottish, EnglishMaleOld Scottish/northern form of Christopher.
KiahHezekiah, Nehemiah, Zachariah, Josiah1700s-1800sAmericanMaleFrom the -kiah / -iah ending of Old Testament names.
KitChristopher, Katherine, Christian1600s-1900sBritish, AmericanEitherMale Christopher or (with Kitty) female Katherine.
KittyKatherine, Catherine1700s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemalePet form of Katherine.
KizzieKeziah1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of the biblical Keziah; also Kizzy.
KlaasNicholas, Nicolaas1600s-1800sDutch-immigrant, AmericanMaleDutch short form of Nicolaas (Nicholas); common in New Netherland records.
KurtConrad1800s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanMaleGerman short form of Konrad (Conrad); also given independently.
LarryLawrence, Laurence, Lorenzo1800s-1900sAmerican, IrishMaleChiefly Lawrence.
LaurieLawrence, Laurence, Laura, Lauren1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Lawrence or female Laura.
LemLemuel1700s-1800sAmericanMaleShort form of Lemuel; also Lemmy.
LenLeonard, Leonardo, Leon1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Leonard.
LenaHelena, Magdalena, Selina, Adeline, Evangelina, Caroline, Wilhelmina1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleFrom any -lena/-lina ending; very common in German-American families.
LennyLeonard1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Leonard; also Lennie.
LeoLeonard, Leopold, Leon, Lionel1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrant, BritishMaleAny Leo- name; also an independent name.
LesLeslie, Lester1900sAmerican, BritishEitherLeslie (either sex) or Lester.
LettieLetitia, Charlotte, Violet, Colette, Lettice1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Letitia; spelled Letty.
LewLewis, Llewellyn, Louis1800s-1900sAmerican, WelshMaleChiefly Lewis; Welsh Llewellyn.
LibElizabeth1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Elizabeth (via Libby).
LibbyElizabeth1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Elizabeth.
LiddyLydia1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Lydia; also Lyddie.
LigeElijah, Elisha1700s-1800sAmericanMaleFrom the tail of Elijah; also spelled Lije.
LilLillian, Lily, Delilah, Elizabeth1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Lillian; also Delilah.
LillieLillian, Lily, Elizabeth1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Lillian; also Lilly.
LinaCaroline, Adelina, Evangelina, Selina, Paulina1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleFrom any -lina ending.
LindyLinda, Melinda, Belinda, Rosalind, Lucinda1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -linda/-lind name.
LishElisha, Alicia1700s-1800sAmericanMaleChiefly Elisha (m).
LizElizabeth1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Elizabeth.
LizaElizabeth, Eliza1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Elizabeth.
LizzieElizabeth1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Elizabeth; often the recorded name.
LolaDolores, Carlota, Lourdes1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleSpanish pet form of Dolores.
LonAlonzo, Alphonso, Lawrence, Zebulon, Leonard1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Alonzo; also the tail of Zebulon; spelled Lonnie.
LonnieAlonzo, Lawrence, Leonard, Zebulon1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Alonzo.
LottieCharlotte1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Charlotte; also Lotta.
LouLouis, Louise, Louisa, Lucy, Luella1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Louis or female Louise/Louisa.
LouieLouis1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Louis.
LucyLucinda, Lucretia, Lucille, Lucia1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleOften independent, but in early records a clip of Lucinda/Lucretia.
LukeLucas, Lucius1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly independent; occasionally clips Lucas/Lucius.
LuluLouise, Louisa, Lucy, Luella, Tallulah1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Louise/Louisa.
LumColumbus1800sAmericanMaleClip of Columbus, a patriotic US given name of the 1800s.
MabsMabel1800s-1900sBritishFemalePet form of Mabel; also Mab.
MaddieMadeline, Madeleine, Magdalena, Madison, Madge1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Madeline; spelled Maddy.
MadgeMargaret, Marjorie, Magdalene1600s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleOld pet form of Margaret.
MaeMary, Margaret, Mabel, Mayme1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleOften independent; also a clip of Mary/Margaret. Spelled May.
MaggieMargaret1800s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishFemaleStandard pet form of Margaret.
MalMalcolm, Malachi1800s-1900sScottish, AmericanMaleChiefly Malcolm.
MamieMary, Margaret, Mildred1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleAmerican pet form, chiefly of Mary/Margaret.
MandaAmanda1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleClip of Amanda.
MandyAmanda, Miranda, Melinda1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Amanda.
MannyEmanuel, Emmanuel, Manuel, Herman1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantMaleChiefly Emanuel.
MargeMargaret, Marjorie1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Marjorie/Margaret.
MargieMargaret, Marjorie, Marguerite1900sAmericanFemalePet form of Margaret/Marjorie.
MartyMartin, Martha, Marion1900sAmericanEitherMale Martin or female Martha.
MattMatthew, Matthias1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Matthew (m).
MattieMartha, Matilda, Mathilda, Matthew1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleA female Mattie is Martha or Matilda -- not the same origin as the male Matt.
MaudMatilda, Magdalene1700s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleMaud/Maude is a medieval variant of Matilda; long used independently.
MegMargaret1500s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishFemaleOld pet form of Margaret; also Meggie.
MelMelvin, Melville, Melissa, Amelia, Melanie, Carmel1900sAmericanEitherMale Melvin or female Melissa/Amelia.
MenaPhilomena, Wilhelmina, Almina, Domenica1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -mena/-mina ending.
MetaMargaret, Margaretha1800s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanFemaleGerman short form of Margarethe (Margaret).
MickMichael1800s-1900sIrish, British, AmericanMaleChiefly Irish pet form of Michael.
MickeyMichael1900sAmerican, IrishMalePet form of Michael; also Micky.
MidgeMargaret, Marjorie, Madge, Michelle1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Margaret.
MikeMichael1800s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishMaleShort form of Michael.
MillieMildred, Millicent, Amelia, Emily, Camilla, Permelia1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Mildred/Millicent; also Amelia. Spelled Milly.
MimaJemima1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemaleClip of Jemima.
MimiMiriam, Mary, Naomi, Marie1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleAn affectionate reduplication, chiefly of Miriam/Mary.
MinMinnie, Wilhelmina, Mary, Miriam1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly via Minnie.
MinaWilhelmina, Almina, Hermina, Jemima1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleFrom any -mina ending.
MinnieMary, Wilhelmina, Minerva, Amelia, Miriam, Margaret1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleOne of the widest female fan-outs; Mary and Wilhelmina lead.
MitchMitchell1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Mitchell.
MitziMary, Maria, Marie1800s-1900sGerman-immigrant, AmericanFemaleGerman (Bavarian) pet form of Maria (Mary).
MollMary1500s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleOld pet form of Mary (Mary -> Molly -> Moll).
MollyMary1600s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleClassic pet form of Mary; source of the rhyming Polly. Independent by the 1900s.
MontyMontgomery, Montague, Lamont1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanMaleChiefly Montgomery/Montague.
MorrieMaurice, Morris, Mortimer, Morton1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Maurice/Morris.
MortMortimer, Morton1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Mortimer; also Morty.
MoseMoses1700s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Moses.
NabAbel1700s-1800sAmericanMaleRare early-US clip of Abel; not to be confused with the female Nabby (Abigail).
NabbyAbigail1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleColonial/early-US pet form of Abigail (Abigail Adams's daughter was Nabby) -- a mapping researchers rarely guess.
NaceIgnatius1700s-1800sAmericanMaleClip of Ignatius; also Nash.
NanAnn, Anne, Nancy, Hannah, Anna1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleOld pet form of Ann (from 'mine Ann' -> Nan).
NancyAnn, Anne, Agnes, Anna1700s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleHistorically a pet form of Ann (via Nan), NOT an independent name until later -- a key genealogical trap.
NatNathaniel, Nathan, Natalie, Natalia1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Nathaniel/Nathan; female Natalie.
NateNathaniel, Nathan1700s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Nathaniel/Nathan.
NedEdward, Edmund, Edwin1500s-1900sBritish, AmericanMaleOld pet form of Edward (from 'mine Ed' -> Ned); also Edmund.
NeddyEdward, Edmund1700s-1800sBritish, AmericanMalePet form of Edward via Ned.
NeilCornelius, Niall1700s-1900sIrish, Scottish, AmericanMaleAmong Irish families Neil often stands in for Cornelius; otherwise the Gaelic Niall.
NellHelen, Ellen, Eleanor, Cornelia, Penelope1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleOld pet form (from 'mine El' -> Nell) of Helen/Ellen/Eleanor.
NellieHelen, Ellen, Eleanor, Cornelia, Penelope1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Helen/Ellen/Eleanor; also Nelly.
NelsNelson, Cornelius, Nils1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Nelson; Scandinavian Nils.
NessieAgnes, Vanessa1700s-1900sScottishFemaleScottish pet form of Agnes.
NettieAntoinette, Henrietta, Jeanette, Janet, Annette1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -nette / -netta ending.
NibIsabel, Isabella1700s-1800sScottishFemaleScottish pet form of Isabel.
NicieEunice1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleClip of Eunice; also Nicey.
NickNicholas, Dominic, Nicodemus1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Nicholas.
NinaAnn, Anna, Katharina, Antonina1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom the -nina ending of names like Antonina; often independent.
NitaAnita, Juanita, Bonita, Antonita1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -nita ending.
NollOliver1500s-1700sBritishMaleOld rhyming pet form of Oliver (Oliver Cromwell was 'Old Noll'); also Nolly.
NonieNora, Honora, Ione, Winona1800s-1900sAmerican, IrishFemaleChiefly via Nora/Honora.
NoraHonora, Eleanor, Leonora, Honoria1700s-1900sIrish, American, BritishFemaleAmong Irish families Nora is the standard form of Honora; elsewhere Eleanor/Leonora.
NormNorman1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Norman; also Normie.
ObieObadiah1700s-1800sAmericanMaleClip of Obadiah; also Obed.
OllieOliver, Olive, Olivia, Olga, Oleta1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Oliver or female Olive/Olivia.
OraAurora, Cora, Orpha1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleOften independent; occasionally a clip of Aurora.
OrrieOrlando, Orville, Oren, Horatio1800s-1900sAmericanMaleFrom any Or- name.
OssieOswald, Oscar, Osborn, Osmond1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanMaleAny Os- name.
PaddyPatrick1700s-1900sIrish, American, BritishMaleIrish pet form of Patrick (Padraig).
PamPamela1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Pamela.
PatPatrick, Patricia, Patience, Martha1700s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishEitherMale Patrick or female Patricia; via Patty also historical Martha.
PatsyMartha, Patricia, Patrick1700s-1900sAmericanEitherHistorically a female pet form of Martha (Martha Washington was 'Patsy'); later Patricia; Irish male Patrick.
PattyMartha, Patricia, Patience1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleIn early records Patty is a pet form of Martha, not Patricia -- a classic trap. Also Pattie.
PegMargaret1600s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleRhyming pet form of Meg (Margaret).
PeggyMargaret1700s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishFemaleRhyming pet form of Meggy (Margaret); independent by the 1900s.
PenPenelope1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Penelope.
PennyPenelope1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Penelope.
PercyPercival, Perceval1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanMaleChiefly Percival; also an independent name.
PetePeter1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Peter.
PhemieEuphemia1700s-1900sScottishFemaleScottish pet form of Euphemia.
PhilPhilip, Phillip, Phyllis, Philippa, Philomena1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Philip or female Phyllis/Philippa.
PipPhilip, Philippa, Pippa1800s-1900sBritishEitherMale Philip (Dickens's Pip) or female Philippa.
PippaPhilippa1800s-1900sBritishFemalePet form of Philippa.
PollMary1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleRhyming form of Moll (Mary).
PollyMary, Paulina, Pauline1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleRhyming pet form of Molly (Mary); the Mary link dominates US/UK records. Occasionally Paulina.
PrisPriscilla1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Priscilla; also Prissy.
PrissyPriscilla1800s-1900sAmericanFemalePet form of Priscilla.
PruePrudence1600s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of the Puritan virtue-name Prudence; also Prudy.
QueenieRegina, Victoria, Queen1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAn endearment often standing in for Regina or Victoria; sometimes recorded on its own.
QuinQuinton, Quincy, Quinlan1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Quinton/Quincy.
RaeRachel, Raelene1900sAmericanFemaleFemale clip of Rachel; often a middle-name or independent.
RandyRandolph, Randall, Bertrand, Miranda1900sAmericanEitherMale Randolph/Randall or female Miranda.
RayRaymond, Rachel1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Raymond; female Ray is a clip of Rachel.
RebaRebecca1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleClip of Rebecca (from the tail syllable).
RegReginald1900sBritish, AmericanMaleShort form of Reginald; also Reggie.
RenaIrene, Serena, Maren, Rowena, Sabrina1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -rena/-rene ending; also Renie.
ReubReuben1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Reuben; also Rube.
RexReginald1900sAmerican, BritishMaleSometimes Reginald; often independent (Latin 'king').
RichRichard1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Richard; also Richie.
RickRichard, Frederick, Roderick, Eric, Patrick1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Richard; also the -rick ending of Frederick/Roderick.
RitaMargaret, Marguerite, Margarita, Norberta1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleFrom the tail of Margarita/Marguerite (Margaret); often independent.
RobRobert1500s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishMaleShort form of Robert.
RobbieRobert, Roberta1700s-1900sScottish, American, BritishEitherMale Robert or female Roberta.
RodRodney, Roderick, Rodrigo1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleRodney or Roderick; also Roddy.
RolloRoland, Rudolph1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanMaleChiefly Roland; also independent (Norse).
RonRonald, Aaron, Veronica1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Ronald; female Ron via Veronica.
RonnieRonald, Veronica, Rhona, Aaron1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Ronald or female Veronica.
RoryRoderick, Ruaidhri1700s-1900sIrish, ScottishMaleAnglicized Irish/Scottish Ruaidhri, conventionally equated with Roderick.
RosieRose, Rosa, Rosanna, Rosemary, Rosalind, Rosetta1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleAny Ros- name.
RoxieRoxanna, Roxana, Roxanne1800s-1900sAmericanFemalePet form of Roxanna; also Roxy.
RoyLeroy, Royce1800s-1900sAmerican, ScottishMaleOften independent (Gaelic 'red'); in the US sometimes a clip of Leroy.
RubeReuben1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Reuben.
RufeRufus1800sAmericanMaleClip of Rufus.
RussRussell1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Russell.
RuthieRuth1800s-1900sAmericanFemalePet form of Ruth.
SadieSarah, Sara1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Sarah (via Sadie < Sayrah); a mapping researchers often miss.
SalSarah, Sally, Salome1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Sarah (via Sally).
SallySarah1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleRhyming pet form of Sarah (Sarah -> Sara -> Sally); independent by the 1900s.
SamSamuel, Samson, Samantha1600s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Samuel; female Sam via Samantha (later).
SammySamuel, Samantha1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherPet form of Samuel; also Sammie.
SanderAlexander1600s-1800sDutch-immigrant, Scottish, German-immigrantMaleDutch/German/Scots clip of Alexander (from the tail).
SandyAlexander, Alexandra, Sandra, Cassandra, Alasdair1700s-1900sScottish, AmericanEitherScottish; male Alexander or female Alexandra/Sandra.
SannaSusanna, Rosanna, Susannah1700s-1800sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleFrom the -sanna ending.
SengaAgnes1800s-1900sScottishFemaleScottish Agnes spelled backwards -- unrecognizable unless you know the trick.
SephJosephine, Josepha1800sAmericanFemaleClip of Josephine (from the middle syllable).
SiSilas, Simon, Simeon, Josiah, Cyrus1700s-1800sAmericanMaleChiefly Silas/Simeon; from an -si- syllable.
SibSibyl, Sibylla, Sabina1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemaleShort form of Sibyl; also Sibbie.
SidSidney, Sydney1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherSidney/Sydney (usually male in this era); also Syd.
SimSimon, Simeon1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanMaleShort form of Simon/Simeon.
SolSolomon1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Solomon; also Solly.
SonnySanto, Salvatore1800s-1900sAmericanMaleUsually a generic pet name for a son / eldest boy rather than a fixed formal name; occasionally masks an Italian given name.
SophieSophia, Sophronia, Sofia1700s-1900sAmerican, British, German-immigrantFemaleChiefly Sophia; also Sophy.
StanStanley, Stanton, Stanislaus1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Stanley.
SteenieStephen, Steven1600s-1800sScottishMaleOld Scottish pet form of Stephen.
SteveStephen, Steven1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Stephen/Steven.
StevieStephen, Steven, Stephanie1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Stephen or female Stephanie.
SueSusan, Susanna, Susannah1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleShort form of Susan.
SukeySusan, Susanna, Susannah1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemaleOld pet form of Susan (Susy -> Sukey) common in colonial/early-US records; also Sukie.
SusieSusan, Susanna, Susannah1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Susan; also Suzie/Suzy.
SyCyrus, Silas, Seymour, Simon, Josiah1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Cyrus/Seymour.
SylSylvester, Sylvanus, Sylvia1800s-1900sAmericanEitherMale Sylvester or female Sylvia.
TabbyTabitha1700s-1800sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of the biblical Tabitha.
TadThaddeus1800s-1900sAmericanMaleClip of Thaddeus.
TammyThomasina, Tamar, Tamsin, Tamara1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleHistorically from Thomasina/Tamar; an independent name by the mid-1900s.
TamsinThomasina1600s-1900sEnglish, WelshFemaleCornish/West-Country female form of Thomas (Thomasina).
TedEdward, Theodore, Edmund1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Edward or Theodore -- both common, so context matters.
TeddyTheodore, Edward, Edmund1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Theodore or Edward.
TempieTemperance1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleClip of the Puritan virtue-name Temperance.
TerryTerence, Theresa, Teresa, Terrence1900sAmerican, British, IrishEitherMale Terence or female Theresa.
TessTheresa, Teresa, Esther, Elizabeth1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanFemaleChiefly Theresa; also Tessie.
TettyElizabeth1700s-1800sBritishFemale18th-c. pet form of Elizabeth (Samuel Johnson's wife was 'Tetty').
ThadThaddeus1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Thaddeus.
TheoTheodore, Theodora, Theodosia, Theophilus1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Theodore or female Theodora/Theodosia.
ThosThomas1600s-1800sAmerican, BritishMaleStandard scribal abbreviation of Thomas.
TibbyIsabella, Isabel, Tabitha1700s-1800sScottishFemaleScottish pet form of Isabella (not, as one might guess, Tabitha).
TillyMatilda, Mathilda, Otilla, Clotilda1800s-1900sAmerican, British, German-immigrantFemaleChiefly Matilda; also Tillie.
TimTimothy1700s-1900sAmerican, British, IrishMaleShort form of Timothy.
TimmyTimothy1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Timothy.
TinaChristina, Christine, Ernestina, Valentina, Martina, Albertina1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleFrom any -tina ending.
TishLetitia, Laetitia, Patricia1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Letitia; also Titia/Tisha.
TobyTobias1600s-1900sBritish, AmericanMalePet form of Tobias.
TollyBartholomew1700s-1800sBritishMaleClip of Bartholomew (from the middle).
TomThomas1500s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Thomas.
TommyThomas1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMalePet form of Thomas; also Tommie.
ToniAntoinette, Antonia, Anthonia1900sAmericanFemaleFemale clip of Antoinette/Antonia.
TonyAnthony, Antonio, Anton1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Anthony.
TottieCharlotte1800s-1900sBritishFemalePet form of Charlotte; also a generic endearment for a small child. Spelled Totty.
TrinaKatherine, Catharina, Katrina, Katharine1700s-1900sGerman-immigrant, Dutch-immigrant, AmericanFemaleGerman/Dutch clip of Katharina (Catherine).
TrishPatricia1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleLater female clip of Patricia; also Tricia.
TrixieBeatrice, Beatrix1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemalePet form of Beatrix/Beatrice; also Trix.
TrudyGertrude, Ermintrude1900sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleClip of Gertrude (from the tail); also Trudie.
UrsieUrsula1600s-1800sBritish, AmericanFemalePet form of Ursula.
ValValentine, Valerie, Valentina, Valeria1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Valentine or female Valerie/Valentina.
VernVernon, Laverne, Lavergne1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Vernon; also Verne.
VesterSylvester1800s-1900sAmericanMaleClip of Sylvester (from the tail).
ViViolet, Viola, Vivian, Virginia1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Violet/Viola.
VicVictor, Victoria1800s-1900sAmerican, BritishEitherMale Victor or female Victoria; also Vick.
VinVincent, Vinson, Calvin, Melvin1800s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Vincent; also the -vin ending.
VinceVincent1900sAmerican, BritishMaleShort form of Vincent.
VineyLavinia, Malvina, Alvina1800sAmericanFemaleChiefly Lavinia.
VinnieVincent, Lavinia, Vincentia, Melvina1800s-1900sAmericanEitherMale Vincent or female Lavinia.
VirgeVirgil1800s-1900sAmericanMaleClip of Virgil.
VivVivian, Vivienne, Viviana1900sAmerican, BritishFemaleChiefly Vivian.
VonnieVeronica, Yvonne, Lavonne, Siobhan1900sAmericanFemaleFrom any -von- name.
WallyWalter, Wallace1800s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishMaleChiefly Walter; Scots Wallace.
WaltWalter1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Walter.
WardEdward, Howard, Woodward1800s-1900sAmericanMaleFrom the -ward ending; also independent.
WattyWalter1600s-1800sScottish, BritishMaleOld Scots/northern pet form of Walter (also Wat).
WesWesley1800s-1900sAmericanMaleShort form of Wesley.
WilkieWilliam, Wilkinson1700s-1900sBritish, AmericanMaleOld pet form of William (via Wilkin).
WillWilliam, Wilbur, Wilfred, Willis1400s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleThe original short form of William, ancestor of Bill.
WillieWilliam, Wilhelmina, Wilma1800s-1900sAmerican, British, ScottishEitherMale William or female Wilhelmina; also Willy.
WilmaWilhelmina1800s-1900sAmerican, German-immigrantFemaleClip of Wilhelmina; an independent name by the 1900s.
WinWinifred, Winston, Edwin, Winthrop, Winnie1800s-1900sBritish, AmericanEitherFemale Winifred or male Winston/Edwin.
WinnieWinifred, Winnifred, Edwina1800s-1900sBritish, American, WelshFemaleChiefly Winifred (Welsh Gwenfrewi).
WoodyWoodrow, Woodward, Sherwood1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Woodrow.
XanderAlexander1900sAmerican, Dutch-immigrantMaleClip of Alexander (from the tail); Dutch Xander.
YettaHenrietta, Yente1800s-1900sAmericanFemaleChiefly Henrietta; among Yiddish-speaking families an independent name.
ZachZachariah, Zachary, Zacharias, Zachery1700s-1900sAmerican, BritishMaleChiefly Zachariah/Zachary; also Zack.
ZebZebulon, Zebedee, Zebediah1700s-1800sAmericanMaleChiefly Zebulon.
ZekeEzekiel, Zachariah1700s-1900sAmericanMaleChiefly Ezekiel.
ZephZephaniah1700s-1800sAmericanMaleClip of Zephaniah.
ZillaZillah, Priscilla1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleChiefly the biblical Zillah; also the tail of Priscilla.
ZippyZipporah1700s-1800sAmericanFemaleClip of the biblical Zipporah.

Want one name in more depth? The nickname finder searches both directions and links to a page per name, and the A to Z browse pages group them by letter.

FAQs

How many historical nicknames are in this list?+

468 nicknames, mapping to 629 formal given names. Each row carries the era the nickname was in use and the regions it is attested in, because a pet form that meant one name in 1790s Scotland often meant another in 1880s America.

Why do old records use nicknames so different from the formal name?+

Three habits account for most of it. Rhyming forms replaced the first sound (Mary to Polly, Margaret to Peggy). Clerks wrote down whatever the family said aloud, so the household name reached the page instead of the baptismal one. And some pet forms drifted so far they look like separate names now, which is why Nancy standing for Ann surprises people.

Can one nickname stand for more than one formal name?+

Often, yes. Where a nickname has several candidates, this list orders them by how commonly the mapping appears in records, most likely first. Treat the later ones as leads to test against a date and a place rather than as equal answers.

Where does this data come from?+

It is a compilation of individual factual mappings drawn from genealogical and onomastic reference material, then checked row by row. Provenance and method are documented in the dataset's own sources file. Nothing here is generated by guessing at a name.

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