Roses and Cellar Doors

Kelly  is, of course, a surname-turned-given-name, but since it's been surpassed by Kellan  & Kellen  for nearly two decades now (an...

I originally started this post looking for new full forms for Beth , but it struck me that most could also work for Bess  and/or Betty  as w...

I know, I know: how have I not done Finn  yet? It's trending in several countries across Europe, as well as in the US, Australia, & ...

Is it just me, or is everybody  using the middle name Ray / Rae right now, for both boys and girls? Although the "cute" factor is ...

Really? I haven't done Nora yet? Yikes, what an oversight! Nora  is currently quite a popular name on its own, all over the world, but ...

Handsome Cal ! How have I forgotten you? While  Cal  is starting to gain use on its own, it's still down below the Top 1000. Traditional...

Yes, yes, I know: Rory isn't a nickname; it's a full boys' name. But, thanks at least partially to Gilmore Girls , Rory is incre...

I know, it seems weird to group those together. But, Dolly & Dotty were nicknames for Dorothy thanks to that R-to-L/T/D shift that Middl...

Ben ! How have I forgotten good, dependable Ben for so long? Benjamin  is the usual choice, of course, and just as in style as ever. Bentley...

I was surprised to find that Samuel  & Samantha are currently ranked #25 & 29 in the US (for boys & girls, respectively, of cour...

Remy/Remi  is another in a long line of traditionally-masculine-but-sounds-feminine-to-modern-ears names that seems to be on the rise for bo...

I really need to come up with a better title for these posts--I'm rapidly running out of "usual" nicknames! Anyway, I see Oz  ...

How on earth did I do a Nicky-names post for boys, and not include some for girls? Shame, shame. Nicole , of course, was a staple of 80s na...

Okay, yet again , not really a usual nickname, but a nickname-y full name. Happy and off-beat, it's not surprising that Sunny   (as well...

A Top 500 boy name on the rise, Ari  has begun to gain momentum as a girls' nickname--nothing new in the naming world, of course--thanks...

I haven't done this one yet? Really?? *hangs head in shame* Originally short for Millicent , Mildred , and other musty Germanic names, ...

It's funny how when asked for classic boys' names, we have a tendency to list names we know from our  generation. Jason, Andrew, Rya...

That's a double-V, not a W. ;) Evie  is one of the fasting-rising nicknames, from traditional picks like  Evelyn, Eva, & Evangeline...

There are quite a few popular nicknames that are seriously lacking a variety of sources! Of course, I have to try anyway. This will definite...

Cam  is one of the few nicknames I can easily see on either gender. Whether sort for Cameron  and Camden  for boys, or Cameron  and Camilla ...