There's a lot of introspection, care, discussion and (possibly) debate the goes along with choosing a baby name. And while it's important to make a thoughtful choice, if the baby arrives, with their chubby arms and smooshy legs, there's a greater-than-zero chance that they're just going to wind up being called something like Squishy.
That's because, when it comes to nicknames, the freedom is total. Some nicknames stick for a child's entire life and into adulthood, and some are outgrown like those first baby onesies. Some follow current baby-name trends, others are totally unique to one family. The easiest ones to come up with are just shortened versions of a longer name, but sometimes the obvious just won't convey how sweet and precoious that bundle actually is.
These some of the best nicknames for girls to try on and see if they fit. (Of course, most of them work for boys or kids of any gender too.) Test a few and see if they match your family dynamic.
Nicknames for the Most Popular Girl Names
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), these are the most popular names for girls in the United States right now — plus how to come up with a short or sweet nickname for them. Some are shortened forms, others are more akin to pet names.
- Olivia: Liv/Livvy, Ollie, Vivi
- Emma: Emmy, Em, M&M
- Charlotte: Charlie, Lottie, Char
- Amelia: Amy, Millie, Lia
- Sophia: Soph, Fifi, Soso
- Mia: Mimi, Mine, M
- Isabella: Issie, Bella, Ella
- Ava: Aves, Avocado, A
- Evelyn: Evie, Lynn, Eve
- Luna: Lulu, Lou, Una
- Harper: Harp, Hip, H
- Sofia: Sof, Fifi, Sosi
- Camila: Cam, Mila, Cammy
- Eleanor: Ellie, Nora, Lenny
- Elizabeth: Liz/Lizzie, Betty, Ellie, Beth
- Violet: Vi, Vivi, Lottie
- Scarlett: Scar, Lettie, Carly
- Emily: Em, Emma, Emmy
- Hazel: Haze, Hazy, H
- Lily: Lil, Lilo, Elle
- Gianna: Ginny, Anna, Gia
- Aurora: Arie, Rory, Sunny
- Penelope: Poppy, Penny, Nelly
- Aria: Ari, Riri, Ri
- Nora: Nor, Nono, Rah
Looking for more baby girl name inspiration? Check out these Good Housekeeping lists: Disney Baby Names | French Baby Names | Hispanic Girl Names | Indian/Hindu Girl Names | Irish Girl Names | Italian Baby Names | Japanese Baby Names | Long Girl Names | Nature Baby Names | Short Girl Names | Baby Boy Names | Unisex/Gender Neutral Names
Cute Nicknames for Girls
These nicknames don't have to have any kind of connection to a girl's given name — they're just delightful!
- Angel
- Baby Bear
- Boo-Boo
- Buddy
- Bundle
- Cuddles
- Dimples
- Girlie
- Lady
- Lovebug
- Lovey
- Peach
- Peanut
- Pixie
- Princess
- Sleepy
- Smidge
- Smiley
- Sweetie
- Teeny
Food-Related Nicknames for Girls
These names match the sweetness of the special girl in your life by bringing to mind your favorite treats.
- Coco/Cocoa
- Cookie
- Cupcake
- Cutie Pie
- Doodle
- Dumpling
- Honey Bun
- Jellybean
- Marshmallow
- Muffin
- Nugget
- Pancake
- Pudding
- Pumpkin
- Small Fry
- Snicker Doodle
- Sugarplum
- Sweet Pea
- Tater Tot
- Twinkie
Animal-Related Nicknames for Girls
Sometimes girls seem like wild animals; other's they're cute and tame. These nicknames run the gamut.
- Bee
- Birdie
- Bunny
- Chickadee
- Cricket
- Cubby
- Doe
- Dovey
- Ducky
- Guppy
- Joey
- Kid
- Kit
- Kitty
- Ladybug
- Lamb
- Little Llama
- Mouse
- Puppy
- Tadpole
Nature-Related Nicknames for Girls
First names inspired by nature are on the rise for all kids, but parents who don't want to fully commit could consider these as nicknames instead.
- Branch
- Breezy
- Bud
- Daisy
- Flurry
- Gem
- Buttercup
- Rainbow
- Rosie
- Sprout
- Starry
- Stormy
- Sunrise
- Sunshine
- Twig
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
