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Popular Nicknames

Popular nicknames may be used on their own on the birth certificate or might be short forms for proper names ranging from the common to the unusual.

The nicknames here rank highly on both the US and the British lists of popular baby names. These top nicknames are friendly and likeable, but may be much more widely-used than you guess given that they're used as diminutives for such a broad range of names. Don't be surprised if your little Ellie or Jack is one of many on the playground!

The up side of these popular nicknames is that they make any name friendlier and more accessible. So you can choose a name of a mythological hero or a great-great-uncle and make it friendly in the contemporary world through one of these top nicknames.

Nora

Meaning: light

Origin:Irish, diminutive of Honora, or Greek
29
Ella

Meaning: all, completely; fairy maiden

Origin:German; English
85
Ellie

Meaning: bright shining one

Origin:English, diminutive of Eleanor and Ellen
121
Bella

Meaning: beautiful

Origin:Diminutive of Isabella, Italian
431
Annie

Meaning: grace

Origin:English, diminutive of Ann
216
Kate

Meaning: pure

Origin:English, diminutive of Katherine
382
Jack

Meaning: God is gracious

Origin:English, diminutive of John
93
Molly

Meaning: bitter

Origin:Diminutive of Mary, Hebrew
99
Ben

Meaning: son of

Origin:Hebrew
653
Origin:Diminutive of Joanna, Josephine, etc
2163
Origin:Diminutive of Joanna, Josephine, etc
2163