Parents often give their children names with the knowledge that they'll likely be called (often) by their shorter, possibly even cuter nickname. Why not just cut out the middle man and go straight to the nickname?
Ever since Drew Barrymore gave her daughter a "nickname" name, we can't stop thinking about super cute nicknames that make even better first names.
Check out this list 30 nicknames that are great names for boys and girls.
Girl Names:
Frankie — An impossibly cute version of Francesa, Frances, or even Franklin … and about to become very popular. Drew Barrymore recently named her second daughter Frankie. So, parents hoping to be different might want to beware of this "nickname" baby name: Your daughter might not be the only "Frankie" in her class years from now.
Coco — Corinne, Colette, Cordelia, and Chloe can all be shortened to Coco, but if you want to cut to the chase, like Courteney Cox did with her daughter, just name your little girl Coco.
Bea (or Bee) — Short for the old fashioned Beatrice, but don't think it's uncool. Vogue editor, Anna Wintour named her daughter Bee.
Jules — Short for Julie, Juliana, and Juliet. Made popular by former E! host and model Jules Asner.
Ellie — Ellie is one of the most popular girls' names in the UK, and it's gaining popularity in the US, as well. In 2011, Ellie entered the Top 100 for the first time, and it currently stands at Number 74.
Lotty — Lotty or Lottie is short for Charlotte. It's a popular name in France and has a positively adorable meaning: Tiny and feminine.
Nora — Cute abbreviation for the old-timey name, Eleanor. Nora is an Irish name, but has just entered the Top 100 baby names in the US at Number 83, which is the highest it has ranked since 1913. Famous Noras? Nora Ephron and Norah Jones.
Edie — Short for Edith, or even the more whimsical Elodie, Edie is an adorable name that will forever invoke images of the eternally-cool muse of Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick.
Addie — Addie or Addy is cute deviation from the wildly-popular name, Addison.
Charlie — Yes, it's short for Charles, but is also the nickname for the name Charlotte. In 2012, it was discovered when the Social Security Administration released their list of top baby names that Charlee was the 13th most popular in terms of "new" baby names for girls.
Billie — Typically, Billy is short for William, but the "ie" at the end make it the feminine form of the name. If it's too "out there" for you (or if you're concerned about your daughter being teased), it makes for a beautiful middle name.
Evie — Short for Evangeline, Genevieve, Everly, Evelyn, or Evie has been near or in the Top 10 for several years now. Natalie Portman played an Evie in V for Vendetta, and Rachel Weiss played one in The Mummy.
Gigi — Typically, a nickname for names such as Gillian, Ginger, Giselle, and Georgiana, Gigi is cute on its own. Designer Cynthia Rowley named her daughter Gigi.
Lulu — Once a popular name in the 1880, Lulu hasn't made a top 100 list in decades. But it should — it's an adorable name that's typically short for Louise, Eloise, or Lucy. It means "pearl."
Lexi — Cute nickname that's short for Greek name, Alexis. Parents beware, though, there seem to be a lot of pornographic actresses who go by the name Lexi.
Boy Names:
Abe — Short for Abraham. Namberry predicts that this old timey nickname will likely follow in the fashionable footsteps of Jake and Sam.
Finn — A beloved nickname short for Finnegan, Finley, or Phineas. Also, the name Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom gave to their son.
Becks — Becks is typically a surname in Australia and Europe, but is a cute deviation from the popular, Beckett.
Eli — The short form of Elijah, Elias, or Elliot, Eli is definitely a name on its own — and a popular one at that. CNN anchor, Campbell Brown, and SNL alum, Rachel Dratch, named their baby boys Eli.
Hank — Common nickname for Henry. Famous Hanks include Hank Azaria, Hank Williams, and Hank Aaron.
Leo — Powerful name meaning lion. Leo is gaining popularity, likely due to Leonardo DiCaprio. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem named their son Leo, as did NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon.
Nate — Short for Nathan or Nathaniel. Ever since one of the main characters in the HBO show, Six Feet Under, Nate has seen a steady increase in popularity.
Gus — Old-timey name, typically short for Augustus. But Gus isn't just for grandpas in rocking chairs anymore. Dixie Chicks singer, Emily Robison, named her son Gus, as did Modern Family actress, Julie Bowen.
Jeb — Jeb can be short for John, as is the case with Jeb Bush, or short for Jebediah. It means "beloved friend."
Jake — Jake is the short form of the top baby name, Jacob. But Jake itself is a popular name, sitting just outside of the top 150 in 2013.
Theo — Theo, which means "divine gift," is a cute alternative to the nickname Ted for Theodore. Actress Bryce Dallas Howard calls her son Theodore, Theo.
Woody — Woody is the short form of the name Woodrow. Famous Woodys include Woody Allen, whose real name is Allan, and, Woody from Toy Story.
Toby— Toby is a variant of the more formal Tobias. Famous Tobys include Toby Keith and Tobey Macguire.
Mick — Short for Michael, and the name of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. Sadly, also used as a generic, derogatory term for an Irishman.
Quinn — Quinn is often a nickname for Quentin, Quinlann, or Quincy. It has actually seen a rise in popularity for girls, thanks to the character Quinn Fabray on Glee.
