What Are Some Cute Names for Girls?

When naming daughters, many parents want to choose the cutest names possible. Some of the sweetest-sounding names for little girls are actually affectionate shortenings of more formal ones. Some parents choose to give a shortened name as their baby’s official name on the birth certificate. Others prefer to bestow the full name on their baby and use the shortening day-to-day, giving their daughter the option of using their full name once they reach adulthood if their nickname no longer feels suitable.

Betsy

Betsy is an adorable shortening of the traditional girls’ name Elizabeth. It is Hebrew in origin and means “pledged to God.” Betsy was popular between the 40s and 60s and is once again becoming fashionable. The name also has literary connotations, as characters bearing the moniker (with the spelling Betsey) feature in David Copperfield and The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. Parents who love the name Betsy may also like the equally cute and lovable name, Betty.

Edie

While it may sound cute, Edie could be the perfect name for a fierce and adventurous little girl. Edie is short for the English name Edith and means “prosperous in war.” The name is evocative of Hollywood glitz and glamour, and little girls with this moniker will be following in the footsteps of Andy Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgwick. Edie is enjoying a renaissance of late, with superstars like Keira Knightly selecting it for their daughters.

Hattie

Hattie is the ideal moniker for a girl that’s born to lead the pack. It’s short for Harriet and means “estate ruler.” Although it was most popular between 1880 and 1900, this adorable name is once again gaining popularity with new parents. Fans of the silver screen are likely to love this name. Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American woman ever to be given an academy award thanks to her performance in “Gone With the Wind.”

Maggie

Cute and spirited-sounding, Maggie is traditionally used as a shortening of the English name Margaret, meaning “pearl.” However, Maggie could also be used as a shortening for something a little more individual such as Magdalena. Music fans may recognize this lovely moniker from Rod Stewart’s iconic song ‘Maggie May.’ Girls with this name share it with famous Hollywood actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Chrissy

The adorable name Chrissy can be a shortening of Christina or Christiana, both Latin in origin. This moniker was first given to a saint and is also attributed to a Queen of Sweden who gave up her royal status to convert to the Roman Catholic faith. Chrissy is currently on-trend as a name for baby girls thanks to witty and glamorous model Chrissy Teigen, wife of John Legend.

Lottie

Lottie could be the right name for a little princess. It’s a shortening of the ever-popular Charlotte, which has been a favorite of royals throughout Europe. Most recently, Prince William and Kate Middleton bestowed the name upon their daughter. Fans of Lottie may also like other similarly cute shortenings of Charlotte such as Lotta and Charlie.

Cora

Cora is a sweet name for a baby in its own right or could be used as a pet name for the more glamorous monikers Coraline or Cordelia. This classic name first appeared as the name of the Greek god Zeus’ daughter. In Greek, the name Cora translates as ‘maiden.’

Mia

The adorable name Mia has star-studded connections. Girls named Mia share their names with Hollywood actress and activist Mia Farrow. Mia means ‘mine’ in Italian and is popular as a given name in its own right. However, parents wishing to use Mia as a diminutive are spoiled for choice. The moniker can be short for Maria, Mary, Miriam, Amelia, or Emily.

Ally

Ally is an adorable shortening of Alison, a more contemporary version of the traditional girl name Alice. The name has Scottish roots and means ‘noble, ‘perfect for a dignified little girl. For parents who aren’t fans of Alison, Ally can also be used as a shortening of Alexandra, meaning ‘defender of mankind.’

Effie

Adorable Effie is a diminutive form of the far more grown-up sounding Greek name Euphemia. It means ‘pleasantly spoken,’ so could be the right moniker for a little girl with important things to say! Although a little is more unusual than some of the other options on this list, Effie has enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to a character in ‘The Hunger Games of the same name.