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Great baby names with even better nicknames

 

AURORA

Nickname: Rory

You likely know the nickname Rory from the television show Gilmore Girls (it was the name of Alexis Bledel’s character). In that case, it was short for Lorelai, but we love it as the shortened version of the popular name Aurora, which comes from a Latin word meaning “dawn.” Rory is so cute that actress Melora Hardin gave it to her daughter as a first name (but we’re still crushing on the Rory/Aurora combo).

 

ANNABELLE

Nickname: Belle

With the gorgeous new version of Beauty and the Beast having recently made its debut, it’s obvious why we’re pushing for Belle. We especially like it as the nickname for Annabelle, meaning “loving.” Celebrities like it too—Bruce Willis and Demi Moore gave their daughter Tallulah the moniker for a middle name.

 

GENEVIEVE

Nickname: Evie

Evie with a long e is cute for a baby and will be much more sophisticated as a girl grows up. French names are having a moment, so we think it’s a great shortened version of the name Genevieve, from a French word translating to “tribe woman.” Evie has been a popular first name for girls for the past few years in England—the Brits seem to be keen on using nicknames as first names—and now we can see why.

 

PENELOPE

Nickname: Poppy

This pretty name is part of the current floral-inspired trend. We like Poppy as a nickname for Penelope, from the Greek word meaning “weaver.” Poppy is currently most famous as the first name of the charming middle Delevingne sister—it’s just a little bit quirky and a whole lot of cool.

 

BEATRICE

Nickname: Tris

We got a little help from the Divergent book series and movies with this one. The fearless main character, Beatrice, goes by the name Tris, and we think it’s the perfect modern twist on an old-fashioned name. Beatrice comes from a Latin word meaning “she who brings happiness.” Tris makes us pretty happy too.

 

ASHER

Nickname: Ash

Although you’ve most likely heard this nickname for girls, it’s the new boys name in town. Ash has been described as having a real Southern charm, and it’s totally true. It’s a great shortened version of the name Asher, which is gaining real popularity lately (it comes from a Hebrew word meaning “fortunate, blessed, happy one”).

 

JACKSON

Nickname: Jax

If Jax isn’t a real rocker name, then we don’t know what is. It reminds us of a fresh take on Jagger, which has certainly had quite a moment in the spotlight. We like Jax as a nickname for the more traditional Jackson, coming from an English word meaning “son of Jack.” Actress Garcelle Beauvais named her son Jax Joseph, but we’re still pushing for Jax as a nickname.

 

SEBASTIAN

Nickname: Bas

Calling all Gossip Girl fans… Is this adorable nickname also giving you real Chuck Bass vibes? It’s equal parts posh and bad boy, and we can’t get enough. It’s a great shortened version of the name Sebastian, meaning “person from ancient city of Sebasta.” Bas is actually a city in the Netherlands, so it’s an extremely popular name there (it’s already hit the top 10 for boys).

 

ALEXANDER

Nickname: Lex

This is especially cute for parents living in Manhattan because of the connotations it has with Lexington Avenue (it’s referred to by locals simply as “Lex”). Lex is an edgy, shortened version of the name Alexander, which comes from a Greek word meaning “defending men” (insert Alexander the Great reference here). Both of these names are strong and have tons of character, making them easy to fall in love with.

 

TRUMAN

Nickname: Tru

It’s hard not to automatically associate this nickname with truth and integrity. In fact, writer Truman Capote is rumored to have gone by the nickname Tru himself. Truman comes from an English word meaning “loyal one” and was most popular the year that Harry Truman succeeded FDR as president.

 

Best Italian Baby Girl Names

 

SOFIA

This elegant name is derived from the Greek name "Sophia" and means "wisdom." It dates as far back as the Middle Ages, when it was bestowed upon female royals.

It has made quite the resurgence lately in the States with a "ph," but it's the version with an "f" that is still exceedingly popular abroad, including Spain, Scandinavia and Italy (of course, home to the famous film star Sofia Loren).

 

AURORA

This may very well be our favorite Italian baby name for girls. You may recognize it as the title given to Sleeping Beauty in the famous Disney movie, but it was also the seventh most popular baby girl name in the States in 2016 (at least for the first half of the year). This radiant choice comes from the Latin word for "dawn" and also has connotations with the northern lights. How's that for a princess name?

 

GIULIA

This sweet name is the Italian version of "Julia," meaning "youthful." It's revered as a traditional girl's name in Italy, so much so that when an Italian couple named their daughter "Andrea"—previously used only for boys—the court renamed the child "Giulia." (The country's Supreme Court later overruled the decision.) Younger actress Debi Mazar is on board with the moniker, having given it to her youngest daughter.

 

GIORGIA

This rustic namesake is an Italian variation on the American "George," meaning "farmer." The name "Georgia" reached the height of its popularity in the United States in the 1940s, with nearly 2500 female babies with that title. Later on, in 2013, the name "George" skyrocketed in popularity in England after Prince George's birth.

 

ALICE

We may also love this name, but the Italians pronounce it ah-LEE-che (so much chicer). The name itself evolved through the years from the German name "Adalheidis," meaning "noble one." This regal title began to gain popularity allover with the release of Lewis Carroll's book Alice's Adventures in Wonderlandin 1865.

 

MARTINA

This nostalgic name has an interesting history: It was first used by the Romans and was the name of a well-known saint in the third century. "Martina" is the female version of the name "Martin," which translates to "war-like." Not surprisingly, it experienced a surge in popularity during the reign of Czech and American tennis star Martina Navratilova.

 

Best French Baby Names

It's as though everything the French touch turns to gold, or, at least, is super stylish as a result of their chic influence. We all strive to dress like them, follow their beauty routines, and style our homes like a Parisian, so their elegant names were clearly next in line—although these techie baby names are super cute too. So we went on a French–baby name hunt to track down the most elegant monikers from the stylish nation.