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(Photo by Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
Many women went by a nickname in the 19th century. These monikers—the 19th century’s most popular, according to the Given Names Frequency Project—may help you identify her in databases, indexes and records.
Popular Historical Female Names
1801-1810
Mary
Elizabeth
Sarah
Nancy
Ann
Catherine
Margaret
Jane
Susan
Hannah
Rebecca
Martha
Lucy
Betty
Sally
1841-1850
Mary
Sarah
Elizabeth
Martha
Margaret
Ann
Emily
Catherine
Nancy
Ellen
Susan
Jane
Frances
Lucy
Harriet
1891-1900
Mary
Elizabeth
Ann
Helen
Margaret
Ellen
Catherine
Lily
Florence
Ada
Lou
Ethel
Emily
Ruth
Rose
Female Nicknames
Who knew your great-grandma Mary could go by at least seven nicknames in genealogical records? Use our list of nicknames for more than 200 given names to figure out the various ways your female ancestor might appear in census, court, newspaper and other records. When searching databases, look for her under all possible nicknames. Note the same woman might show up with different nicknames in different records.
Female Nickname Searchable Guide
The same nickname might be associated with different given names. If all you have is a nickname and you’re looking for possible given names, use the search box in the upper right corner of the table.
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| Given name | Possible Nickname(s) |
|---|---|
| Abigail | Abby, Gail, Nabby |
| Adaline | Ada, Adela, Aline, Lina |
| Adelaide | Ada, Addy, Adela, Della, Heidi |
| Adela | Della |
| Agatha | Ag, Aggy |
| Agnes | Aggy, Ann, Nancy, Nessie |
| Alberta, Abertina | Al, Allie, Bert, Bertie, Bird |
| Alexandra | Alex, Andi, Sandy, Sandra, Xandra |
| Alexis | Lexi |
| Alicia, Alice | Alcy, Alicia, Lisa, Ally, Elsie |
| Alison | Ally |
| Almena | Mena, Minnie |
| Almira | Myra |
| Alyssa | Al, Ally, Lisa, Lissa |
| Amanda | Amy, Manda, Mandy |
| Amelia | Amy, Emily, Mel, Melia, Millie |
| Anastasia | Ana, Stacy |
| Andrea | Andi, Drea |
| Angela, Angelina | Angel, Angelica, Angie, Ann, Anna, Jane, Lina |
| Annette | Anna, Nettie |
| Antonia, Antoinette | Antonia, Net, Nettie, Tonie |
| Arabella | Ara, Bella, Belle |
| Arielle | Arie, Ella |
| Arlene | Lena |
| Aubrey | Bree |
| Audrey | Dee |
| Augusta, Augustina | Aggy, Gussie, Ina, Tina |
| Aurelia, Aurilla, Orilla | Ora, Ree, Rilly |
| Barbara | Babs, Barb, Barbie, Bobbie, Bonnie |
| Beatrice, Beatrix | Bea, Trisha, Trissy, Trixie |
| Bedelia | Delia, Bridgit |
| Belinda | Bell, Linda, Lyn |
| Bertha | Bertie, Bitha, Boots |
| Bethena | Bet, Beth, Thaney |
| Beverly | Bev |
| Blanche | Bea |
| Brenda | Brandy |
| Bridget | Biddy, Bridie, Brie, Delia |
| Calista | Callie, Kissy |
| Camille, Camilla | Cammy, Millie |
| Candace | Candy, Dacey |
| Carlotta | Carla, Lottie |
| Carmellia Carm, | Cammie, Charm, Mellie |
| Caroline, Carolyn | Caddie, Callie, Carol, Carrie, Lena, Lynn |
| Cassandra | Cass, Cassie, Sandy, Sandra |
| Catherine, Cathleen, Kathryn, Kathleen, Katharine | Cathy, Karen, Katie, Kay, Kit, Kittie, Rhynie, Rina, Trina |
| Cecilia | Cee, Celia, Cissy |
| Celeste | Celia, Lessie |
| Celinda | Linda, Lindy, Lynn |
| Charity | Chat |
| Charlene | Charlie, Char, Lena |
| Charlotte | Car, Char, Letty, Lotta, Lottie |
| Chloe | Clo |
| hristine, Christina, Christiana, Kristine, Kristina | Chris, Christy, Crissy, Ina, Kit, Kissy, Kris, Krissy, Tina, Xina |
| Cecilia, Cicely | Celia, Cilla |
| Cinderella | Arilla, Cindy, Rilla, Rella |
| Clarice, Clarissa | Cissy, Claire, Clara, Clare |
| Clarinda | Claire, Clara, Clare, Linda, Rindy |
| Clementine | Clem, Tina |
| Constance | Connie |
| Cordelia | Cordy, Delia, Della, Lil, Lila |
| Cornelia | Cora, Ora, Conny, Corny, Neely, Nell, Nelly |
| Courtney | Corky, Court |
| Cynthia | Cindy, Sina |
| Danielle | Dani, Ellie |
| Daphne | Daph |
| Deanne, Deanna | Ann, Anna, Dee, Deedee |
| Deborah | Deb, Debbie, Debby |
| Delilah | Del, Lila |
| Delores | Del, Lori |
| Delphine, Delphina | Del, Phina |
| Diane, Diana | Di, Ann, Anna |
| Denise | Necie, Dee |
| Dorinda | Dorie |
| Dorothy, Dorothea | Dora, Dot, Dottie, Dotha, Thea |
| Drusilla | Silla |
| Edith | Dicey, Edie |
| Elaine, Eleanor, Leonora | Elena, Ella, Ellen, Elsie, Helen, Lana, Lainie, Nell, Nellie, Nora |
| Elizabeth | Bess, Bessie, Bet, Beth, Betsy, Betty, Bitsy, Eli, Eliza, Elsie, Ibby, Libby, Lisa, Lish, Liz, Liza, Lizbet, Lizzie, Tess |
| Elnora | Nora |
| Emeline, Emily | Emma, Emmy, Lina, Millie, Erma |
| Ernestine | Ernie, Teeny, Tina |
| Estella | Essie, Stella |
| Esther | Essie, Hettie |
| Eudora | Dora |
| Eudoris | Dosie |
| Eugenia | Genie, Jenny |
| Eunice | Necie |
| Eustacia | Stacy |
| Evangeline | Eve, Eva, Angie |
| Evelyn | Eve, Lynne |
| Fidelia | Delia |
| Felicia | Lisha |
| Felicity | Fel, Feli |
| Florence | Flo, Flora, Florrie, Floss, Flossie |
| Frances | Fanny, Fran, Francie, Frankie, Sis |
| Frederica | Freddie, Rica |
| Gabrielle | Ella, Gabbie |
| Genevieve | Jenny, Ginny, Neva |
| Georgiana | Georgie, Anna |
| Geraldine | Dina, Geri |
| Gertrude | Gatty, Gertie, Trudy |
| Gwendolyn | Genny, Gwen, Wendy |
| Heather | Hetty |
| Harriett | Harrie, Hattie, Etta, Ettie |
| Helen, Helena | Ellen, Elsie, Lena, Nell, Nellie |
| Heloise, Louise | Eloise, Lois, Lou, Weezy |
| Henrietta | Etta, Ettie, Hetty, Nettie, Retta |
| Hester | Esther, Hessy, Hetty |
| Hilary, Hilda | Hillie |
| Irene | Rena |
| Isabelle, Isabella | Bella, Belle, Cybilla, Ib, Issy, Izzy, Nib |
| Isadora | Dora, Izzy |
| Jacqueline | Jackie |
| Janet | Jan, Jane, Janie, Nettie |
| Joanna, Johanna | Anna, Joan, Jean, Jo, Joan, Jody |
| Jeanette | Jan, Jean, Jeanne, Jenny, Nettie |
| Jemima | Jemma, Mima, Mimi |
| Jennifer | Jan, Jenny |
| Jerita | Rita |
| Jessica | Jess, Jesse, Jessie, Sica |
| Joan | Nonie |
| Josephine, Josephina | Jo, Josie, Phena |
| Josetta | Jettie, Josie |
| Joyce | Joy |
| Juanita | Nita |
| Judith | Juda, Jude, Judy |
| Julia, Julieta | Jill, Julie, Juliet |
| Katherine, Kathleen | Kay (see Catherine) |
| Kayla | Kay |
| Kendra | Kay, Kenny, Kenji |
| Kesiah | Kizzy |
| Kristine | (see Christina) |
| Laodicia | Dicy, Cenia |
| Lauren, Laurinda, Lauryn, Lorinda | Laurie, Laura, Lori, Ren, Mindy |
| Laverne | Verna |
| Lavina, Lavinia | Vina, Viney, Vonnie, Wyncha |
| Leanne, Leanna | Ann, Annie, Lea, Lee |
| Leonore, Leonora | Eleanor, Lennie, Nora, Norah |
| Letitia | Lettie, Lettice, Titia, Tish |
| Levicy | Vicy |
| Lavonne | Von |
| Lillian | Lil, Lila, Lilly, Lolly, Odie |
| Loretta | Etta, Laura, Lorrie, Retta |
| Lorraine | Lorrie, Rainie |
| Loucinda, Lucinda | Cindy, Lucy |
| Louvenia, Lavinia | Lou, Vina, Viny |
| Louetta | Lou, Etta |
| Lucille | Lucia, Lucy Ceall, Cille |
| Lucretia | Creasey, Cretia, Lou |
| Lydia | Liddie |
| Margaret, Margareta, Magdelene | Daisy, Greta, Madge, Maggie, Marge, Margie, Margo, Meg, Midge, Peg, Peggy |
| Marilyn | Lyn |
| Marjorie | Geri, Jeri, Marge |
| Martha | Marcy, Marty, Marta, Mattie, Pat, Patsy, Patty |
| Matilda | Mattie, Tildy, Tillie |
| Maureen | Maura, Reenie |
| Mary | Mamie, Mae, May, Mattie, Mimi, Molly, Polly |
| Melinda | Mel, Mellie, Linda, Mindy |
| Melissa | Mel, Missy, Lissa, Lisa |
| Michelle | Mitch, Shelly |
| Mildred | Milly |
| Millicent | Milly, Missy |
| Minerva | Minnie |
| Miranda | Mandy, Mira, Randy |
| Miriam | Mimi, Mitzi |
| Monica | Mona |
| Nancy | Nan, Ann |
| Natalie | Natty, Nettie, Tallie |
| Nicoletta | Letta, Nicole, Nicky |
| Obedience | Bede, Biddy |
| Olive, Olivia | Liv, Livia, Ollie, Nollie |
| Parmelia | Amelia, Melia, Milly, Parm |
| Patience | Pat, Patty |
| Patricia | Pat, Patty, Patsy, Tricia, Trish |
| Paula, Paulina | Polly, Lina |
| Penelope | Penny |
| Philinda | Linda |
| Priscilla | Cissy, Cilla, Prissy |
| Prudence | Prudy, Prue |
| Rachel | Shelly |
| Rebecca | Becca, Becky, Beck, Reba |
| Regina | Reggie, Gina |
| Roberta | Bobbie, Bert, Bertie, Birdie, Robbie |
| Rhonda | Ronnie |
| Rosabel, Rosabella | Belle, Rosa, Rose, Roz |
| Rosalyn, Rosalinda | Linda, Rosa, Rose, Roz |
| Roseann, Roseanna | Ann, Rose, Rosie Roz |
| Rosemary | Rose, Rosie, Mary, Roz |
| Roxanne, Roxanna | Ann, Rose, Roxie |
| Sabrina | Brina |
| Samantha | Sam, Sammy |
| Sarah, Sara | Sally, Sadie |
| Selina, Celina | Lena |
| Serena | Rena |
| Shirley | Lee, Sherry, Shirl |
| Submit | Mittie |
| Susan, Susannah | Anna , Hannah, Nan, Nanny, Sue, Sukey, Susie, Suze |
| Tabitha | Abby, Bitha, Bitty, Tabby |
| Temperence | Tempy, Tillie |
| Theodora | Dora, Teddie, Thea |
| Theodosia | Dosia, Teddie, Thea |
| Theresa | Terrie, Tess, Tessie, Tessa, Thursa, Tracy |
| Tryphena | Phena |
| Valerie | Val |
| Vanessa | Essa, Nessa, Vanna |
| Veronica | Franky, Frony, Ron, Ronnie, Ronna, Vonnie |
| Victoria | Vicky, Tory |
| Violet, Violetta | Vi, Letta, Lettie |
| Virginia | Ginger, Ginny, Jane, Jennie, Virgie |
| Wilhelmina | Mina, Minnie, Willie, Wilma |
| Winifred | Freddie, Winnie, Winnet |
Related Reads
If discovering the women in your family tree is one of your genealogy goals, you’ll love these underused resources for finding female ancestors.
Finding your female ancestors can be a challenge, but these six tips will help you find those elusive women in your family history.
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