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Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Nicknames

Written by Michelle Bruns

After all the lists, research, polls and teasing tests you worked through to pick out just the right name for your little bundle of joy, you still manage to call him something completely different. From button to sweet pea, parents across the country have managed to find the sweetest, silliest, and most bazaar nicknames to call their baby. Looking for inspiration? Here are a few ideas for nicknaming your youngster.

Whether your tiny tot’s nick name comes from his burly personality or just your overflowing heart of affection for your offspring, it surely is as far from his actual name on his birth certificate. Check out these ideas for baby nicknames:

Bubba / Bubbs
Button
Peanut
Precious
Princess
Pumpkin
Sweet Pea

Stick to Tradition

If some of these monikers are too far off in left field for you, here are a few names that are commonly shortened, but a bit more familiar:

Boy Nickname Ideas

Andrew = Andy, Drew
Charles = Charlie, Chuck
Daniel = Danny, Dan
Francis = Frank, Fran
James = Jim, Jimmy
John = Jack, Jacky
Joseph – Jake
Michael – Mikey
Richard – Dick, Rick
Robert = Bobby, Bob, Rob
Thadius – Tad
Thomas – Tom
William = Billy, Willy

Girl Nickname Ideas

Amanda = Mandy
Angela – Angie
Arabelle = Bella, Bell
Barbara = Babbs
Christina = Tina
Cynthia = Cindy
Dorothy = Dotty
Elizabeth = Betty, Beth, Liz
Gwyneth = Gwen
Katherine = Kate
Margaret = Peggy
Melissa/Michelle = Missy
Roberta = Bobbie
Virginia = Ginny, Ginger

Real life Insight

If you’re looking for inspiration for less common pet names to call your kids, here are a few nicknames that have lovingly adorned the likes of youngsters you may know:

“We call my nephew ‘Coly Poly’ (like Roly Poly), and my niece is known as ‘Natty Batty’.” – Kanna C., Corona, CA

“I call my daughter ‘Pumpkin Muffin’ and ‘Sis’! Husband hates that I call her Sis; says, "She's not your sister!" – Sarah M., Chino, CA

“My aunt and uncle call my cousin, ‘Scooter’ or ‘Scootie’.” – Michelle M., Long Beach, CA

“We've got a ‘Punky Brewster’ (sometimes shortened to ‘Punk’), a ‘Buster Brown’, and lots of ‘Luvbug's’.” - Linda G., Corona, CA

“When my son was little, my Dad thought he looked like a Munchkin from the Wizard of Oz so he started calling him ‘Munchkin’. It somehow evolved into ‘Munchie’ and my Dad still calls him that. He's gotten older and all of the rest of us have stopped calling him that, so at this point it's their little thing, it's really cute.” – Natalie M., Corona, CA

“In our house, ‘Stinker’, ‘Monkey,’ and ‘Little Foot’ come to mind.” – Jennifer L., Orange, CA

“We use the nicknames ‘Bubba’, ‘Budda’, ‘Oli Frijoli’, and ‘Scoob’. I know - they are weird - but true!” – Jenn L., Chino Hills, CA

“’Snookie Bear’ - often shortened to just ‘Snookie,’ which my nephew hates this now that he's older! We called a little girl we knew, ‘Boo Noodle.’ And, my husband called our son, ‘Viejo Feo,’ which means "Ugly old man" - yes, he called my newborn this!” - Tish C., Corona, CA

“We call our daughter, ’Our Little Pistol!’ She’s a crazy girl!” – Cathy R., Corona, CA

“I call out daughter, ‘Charlie Biscuit.’ This is because when she was born, she reminded me of a fresh, warm, doughy, squishy biscuit straight from the over. A.K.A. Char Biscuit. I also call her Mimes; I'm not really sure why, except that I used to tell her to go Mi Mi's when it was time for sleep. I call our son, ‘Puddles.’ He is just a puddle of love. We also call him ‘Funny Guy’ and ‘Squirrel.’ He used to hold his food and roll it around while eating it when he was a baby. He looked just like an eating squirrel.” – Michelle N., Corona, CA

“Well, ‘Seashell,’ let me think...maybe I can ask ‘Wyan Manwo’ or ‘Willy D. Winner.’ What do you think?” - Vicki M., Portland, OR

“My couple of favorites: ‘Bear’, ‘Cadebear,’ or ‘Buddy’ for my son, and ‘Stinkerbelly,’ ‘Rye,’ or ‘Sleeping Beauty’ for my daughter.” – Marcy S., Huntington Beach, CA

Tell Us: What nickname do you plan on calling your baby or what nicknames do you call your children?

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