‘Nickname names’ are hot! Who by now hasn’t met, for instance, a girl named Sam or Charlie? Nobody loves a nickname name more than celebrities, and many of them have displayed a lot of originality in discovering and reviving long forgotten relics. Here are some of the most outstanding recent starbaby nickname names. We’re focused on the girls for now but look for the boys’ list soon.
Andy
Jack and Lisa Osbourne gave two of their three daughters nickname names ― perhaps inspired by their grandad Ozzie (born John). For their middle child, Andy Rose, born in 2015, they chose one rarely heard for a girl. Actress Andie MacDowell (born Rosalie Anderson) uses a different spelling.
Billie
A boyish nickname with some great namesakes, picked by Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane. It was No. 79 in 1930.
Birdie
In 2008 actress Busy Philipps named her baby girl Birdie (inspired by ‘Lady Bird’ Johnson), followed by Maura West’s Birdie West the next year. Birdie, now No. 346 on Nameberry, was in the 150s at the end of the 19th century.
Bunny
Affectionate pet name Bunny hopped onto the birth certificate of model Katie Price’s daughter.
Dolly
A nickname name that goes back to Dolley (sic) Madison, it was modernized by Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell for one of their twin girls.
Dusty
A nickname long associated with singer Dusty Springfield (born Mary), Dusty was picked up and dusted off by Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine in 2016.
Edie
The warm and friendly diminutive of Edith was chosen by two Brits ― Keira Knightley and Samantha Morton. And it’s not all that surprisingly, since Edie is up at No. 135 in England.
Elsie
This old Scottish Elizabeth diminutive is definitely having a revival, now at No. 31 in England, 90 on Nameberry and 301 across the U.S. It’s been used by singer James Morrison and actress Zooey Deschanel.
Frankie
The year after Drew Barrymore chose this for her daughter in 2014, Frankie bounced back onto the Top 1000 list ― after a 41-year hiatus.
Goldie
Another golden oldie, Goldie was chosen for their daughters by Ione Skye and shoemeister Steve Madden. It’s No. 851 on Nameberry.
Hattie
Harriet may not be back, but the nickname Hattie is. It reentered the Top 1000 not long after the birth of Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott’s Hattie Margaret.
Izzy
Izzy is familiar as a short form of Isabel, Isabella, etc, but rarely used on its own That all changed with “Grey’s Anatomy.” Eddie Murphy was inspired to use it for his daughter in 2016 ― his ninth child.
Josie
A stellar success among nickname revivals, Josie now ranks at No. 201. Actor Scott Caan’s daughter is Josie James ― the middle a nod to grandpa James Caan.
Lulu/Lula
In the past couple of years, Liv Tyler named her daughter the stylish, ebullient Lulu and Haylie Duff chose Lula.
Millie
Vintage frilly Millie has become thoroughly modernized, ranking at No. 355 in the U.S. in 2017, No. 20 in Scotland, and No. 34 in England, represented now by “Stranger Things” young British star Millie Bobby Brown. Musician Curtis Rempel is one recent dad of a baby Millie.
Minnie
Minnie Theodora Osbourne is the sister of Andy Rose and Pearl Clementine; Maya Rudolph named one of her daughters Minnie to honor her late mother, the acclaimed singer Minnie Ripperton.
Nixie
Nixie may not be strictly speaking a nickname, being a German name for a water sprite, but it sure sounds like one. Chad Lowe moved out of the box when he chose it for his daughter.
Polly
This sweet old-time diminutive of Mary could be making a comeback as a successor to Molly. Actress Erika Christensen chose it just this year.
Ray
Sometimes used as a middle name for girls in the past (more often spelled Rae), as in Miley Ray Cyrus, but journalist Lisa Ling moved it into first place for her second daughter.
Stevie
Stevie Nicks was born Stephanie, but now there are many girl Stevies standing on their own, including the daughter of Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick, born this year.
Sunny
Adam Sandler picked two upbeat nicknamey monikers for his girls, Sadie and Sunny. Michael “Flea” Balzary has a Sunny Bebop.
Winnie
Winnie is a winner that got her celebrity cred via Jimmy Fallon, who was inspired by the lake where he and his wife Nancy were engaged ― Lake Winnipesaukee.
Zuzu
The zippy Czech nickname for Susan heard every Christmas on the young daughter in “It’s a Wonderful Life” was used as a full name by “Top Chef’s” Tania Peterson.
