Names Categorized "short forms"

This is a list of names in which the categories include short forms.
gender
usage
Abe 1 m English
Short form of Abraham.
Abi f English
Diminutive of Abigail (typically British).
Achim 1 m German
German short form of Joachim.
Ad m Dutch
Short form of Adriaan.
Ada 1 f English, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Hungarian, Finnish, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names such as Adelaide or Adelina that begin with the element adal meaning "noble". Saint Ada was a 7th-century Frankish abbess at Le Mans. This name was also borne by Augusta Ada King (1815-1852), the Countess of Lovelace (known as Ada Lovelace), a daughter of Lord Byron. She was an assistant to Charles Babbage, the inventor of an early mechanical computer.
Addy 1 f English
Diminutive of Adelaide, Adeline, Addison and other names containing the same sound.
Ade 1 m & f Western African, Yoruba
From Yoruba adé meaning "crown", also a short form of other names beginning with this element.
Adela f English, Spanish, Romanian, Polish, Slovak, Germanic
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Old German element adal meaning "noble" (Proto-Germanic *aþalaz). Saint Adela was a 7th-century Frankish princess who founded a monastery at Pfazel in France. This name was also borne by a daughter of William the Conqueror.
Adina 2 f Romanian
Meaning uncertain, possibly a short form of Adelina.
Adria f English
Short form of Adriana.
Age 1 m Frisian
Frisian form of Ago.
Aike m Frisian
Diminutive of names beginning with the Old German element ekka meaning "edge, blade" or adal meaning "noble".
Ain m Estonian
Possibly an Estonian short form of Hendrik.
Aki 1 m Finnish
Short form of Joakim.
Akoni m Hawaiian
Short form of Anakoni.
Aku 1 m Finnish
Short form of Aukusti.
Al m English
Short form of Albert and other names beginning with Al. A notable bearer is American actor Al Pacino (1940-).
Alba 3 f Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element alb meaning "elf" (Proto-Germanic *albaz).
Aldo m Italian, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element alt meaning "old" (Proto-Germanic *aldaz), and sometimes also with adal meaning "noble" (Proto-Germanic *aþalaz).
Ale 1 m & f Finnish, Italian, Spanish
Finnish short form of Aleksanteri or Aleksi, an Italian short form of Alessandro, and a Spanish short form of Alejandro or Alejandra.
Ale 2 m Frisian
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element adal meaning "noble".
Alec m English
Short form of Alexander.
Aleid f Dutch
Dutch short form of Adelaide.
Aleida f Dutch
Dutch short form of Adelaide.
Alena 1 f German, Czech, Slovak, Slovene
Short form of Magdalena or Helena. This was the name of a saint, possibly legendary, who was martyred near Brussels in the 7th century.
Álex m Spanish
Short form of Alejandro.
Alex m & f English, Dutch, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Czech, Russian
Short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with Alex.
Alf 2 m English
Short form of Alfred.
Alf 3 m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Short form of Adolf.
Alice f English, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Czech, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch
From the Old French name Aalis, a short form of Adelais, itself a short form of the Germanic name Adalheidis (see Adelaide). This name became popular in France and England in the 12th century. It was among the most common names in England until the 16th century, when it began to decline. It was revived in the 19th century.... [more]
Alina f Romanian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Slovene, German, Italian, Spanish
Short form of Adelina, Albina and names that end in alina.
Alke m Frisian
Diminutive form of Ale 2.
Alte 2 m Frisian
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Old German element alt meaning "old".
Amse m Frisian
Originally a short form of Adelmar (and other names starting with the Old German element adal "noble" and a second element beginning with m).
Andra 2 f Romanian
Short form of Alexandra.
Ane 2 m Frisian
Variant of Anne 2.
Anne 2 m Frisian
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element arn meaning "eagle".
Anneli f Finnish, Estonian, Swedish, German
Finnish, Estonian and Swedish form of Annelie, as well as a German variant.
Annelie f German, Swedish
German diminutive of Anna or short form of Anneliese.
Anso m Germanic
Short form of Germanic names beginning with the element ansi meaning "god" (Proto-Germanic *ansuz).
Ante 2 m Frisian
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element anto "zeal".
Aris 1 m Greek
Modern Greek form of Ares. It is also used as a short form of Aristotelis.
Arn m English
Short form of Arnold.
Arnd m German
German short form of Arnold.
Arndt m German
German short form of Arnold.
Arne 1 m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Originally an Old Norse short form of names beginning with the element ǫrn meaning "eagle".
Arno m Dutch, German
Short form of Arnoud or Arnold.
Art m English
Short form of Arthur.
Åsa f Swedish
Short form of Old Norse feminine names beginning with the element áss "god".
Ash m & f English
Short form of Ashley. It can also come directly from the English word denoting either the tree or the residue of fire.
Ásta f Old Norse, Icelandic
Short form of Ástríðr. It nearly coincides with Icelandic ást meaning "love".
Asta f Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
Short form of Astrid.
Asun f Spanish
Short form of Asunción.
Athan m Greek
Short form of Athanasios.
Athanas m Ancient Greek
Short form of Athanasios (see Athanasius).
Atse m Frisian
Variant of Ade 2.
Auli f Finnish
Short form of Aulikki.
Ava 3 f German, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element awi, of unknown meaning. This was the name of a 9th-century Frankish saint. It was also borne by a 12th-century poet from Melk, Austria.
Avto m Georgian
Short form of Avtandil.
Ayo f & m Western African, Yoruba
From Yoruba ayọ̀ meaning "joy", or a short form of other names containing this element.
Baer m Limburgish
Short form of Albaer and other Limburgish names ending in baer, often derived from the Germanic element beraht meaning "bright".
Baldo m Italian, Spanish, Germanic
Originally a short form of names containing the Old German element bald meaning "bold, brave" (Proto-Germanic *balþaz), such as Baldwin and Theobald. In Italian it can also be short for the non-Germanic name Baldassare.
Bara f Croatian
Croatian short form of Barbara.
Barb f English
Short form of Barbara.
Bart m English, Dutch
Short form of Bartholomew or Bartholomeus. This name is borne by a mischievous cartoon boy on the television series The Simpsons.
Barta m Hungarian (Rare)
Hungarian short form of Bertalan.
Bartolo m Italian
Italian short form of Bartholomew.
Bas m Dutch
Short form of Sebastiaan.
Bastien m French
Short form of Sébastien.
Bea f English, Hungarian, Dutch
Short form of Beatrix or Beáta.
Becca f English
Short form of Rebecca.
Beck m & f English (Rare)
From a surname of English, German or Scandinavian origins, all derived from related words meaning "stream". As a feminine name, in some cases it is a short form of Rebecca. A noted bearer is the American rock musician Beck Hansen (1970-), born Bek David Campbell, who goes by the stage name Beck.
Becka f English
Short form of Rebecca.
Beckah f English
Short form of Rebecca.
Bee f English
Short form of Beatrix and other names beginning with B.
Bella f English
Short form of Isabella and other names ending in bella. It is also associated with the Italian word bella meaning "beautiful". It was used by the American author Stephenie Meyer for the main character in her popular Twilight series of novels, first released 2005, later adapted into a series of movies beginning 2008.
Belle f English
Short form of Isabella or names ending in belle. It is also associated with the French word belle meaning "beautiful". A famous bearer was Belle Starr (1848-1889), an outlaw of the American west, whose real given name was Maybelle.
Ben 1 m English, German, Dutch
Short form of Benjamin or Benedict. A notable bearer was Ben Jonson (1572-1637), an English poet and playwright.
Ben 2 m Dutch
Short form of Bernhard.
Bence m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Vincent. It is also used as a short form of Benedek.
Benj m English
Short form of Benjamin.
Bert m English, German, Dutch
Short form of Albert and other names containing the element bert, often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright".
Bertha f German, English, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the Old Frankish or Old Saxon element berht, Old High German beraht meaning "bright" (Proto-Germanic *berhtaz). This was the name of a few early saints, including a 6th-century Frankish princess who married and eventually converted King Æþelbeorht of Kent. It was also borne by the mother of Charlemagne in the 8th century (also called Bertrada), and it was popularized in England by the Normans. It died out as an English name after the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 19th century.... [more]
Bertilo m Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element beraht meaning "bright, famous".
Berto m Italian, Spanish
Short form of Roberto, Alberto and other names containing berto (often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright").
Bet f Frisian, Limburgish
Frisian and Limburgish short form of Elisabeth.
Beth f English
Short form of Elizabeth, or sometimes Bethany.
Bev f English
Short form of Beverly.
Bice f Italian
Short form of Beatrice.
Biel m Catalan
Catalan short form of Gabriel.
Bill m English
Short form of William. This spelling was first used in the 19th century. The change in the initial consonant may have been influenced by an earlier Irish pronunciation of the name. Famous bearers include basketball player Bill Russell (1934-2022), comedian Bill Cosby (1937-), American president Bill Clinton (1946-), and Microsoft founder Bill Gates (1955-).
Bine 1 f Danish
Short form of Sabine and other names ending in bine.
Bob m English, Dutch
Short form of Robert. It arose later than Dob, Hob and Nob, which were medieval rhyming nicknames of Robert. It was borne by the character Bob Cratchit in Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol (1843). Other famous bearers include American folk musician Bob Dylan (1941-) and Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley (1945-1981).
Bor m Slovene
Short form of names containing bor, such as Borislav or Boris. It is also a South Slavic word meaning "pine tree".
Boštjan m Slovene
Short form of Sebastjan.
Bram m English, Dutch
Short form of Abraham. This name was borne by Bram Stoker (1847-1912), the Irish author who wrote Dracula.
Brecht m Dutch
Short form of names containing brecht, often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright".
Bria f English
Short form of Brianna, Gabriella and other names containing bri.
Brie f English
Short form of Brianna, Gabriella and other names containing bri.
Brielle f English (Modern)
Short form of Gabrielle. This is also the name of towns in the Netherlands and New Jersey, though their names derive from a different source.
Brina f Slovene
Feminine form of Brin.
Britt f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian short form of Birgitta.
Britta f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian short form of Birgitta.
Bron f Welsh
Short form of Bronwen.
Broos m Dutch
Dutch short form of Ambroos.
Buck m English
From an English nickname meaning simply "buck, male deer", ultimately from Old English bucc.
Burt m English
Short form of Burton.
Cadi f Welsh
Short form of Catrin.
Cale m English
Short form of Caleb.
Cam 2 m & f English
Short form of Cameron.
Candela f Spanish
Short form of Candelaria.
Candi f English
Variant of Candy.
Carine f French
French form of Carina 1. It can also function as a short form of Catherine, via Swedish Karin.
Carol 1 f & m English
Short form of Caroline. It was formerly a masculine name, derived from Carolus. The name can also be given in reference to the English vocabulary word, which means "song" or "hymn".
Cas m Dutch
Short form of Casper.
Case m English (Modern)
Short form of Casey.
Cass f & m English
Short form of Cassandra, Cassidy and other names beginning with Cass.
Cat f & m English
Diminutive of Catherine. It can also be a nickname from the English word for the animal.
Cathrin f German
German short form of Katharina.
Catrin f Welsh, German
Welsh form of Katherine, as well as a German short form of Katharina.
Celina f Polish, Portuguese, German
Feminine form of Caelinus. This name can also function as a short form of Marcelina.
Chelle f English
Diminutive of Michelle.
Cher f English
Short form of Cheryl. In the case of the American musician Cher (1946-), it is short for her real name Cherilyn.
Chet m English
Short form of Chester.
Chita f Spanish
Short form of Conchita.
Chris m & f English, Dutch, German, Danish
Short form of Christopher, Christian, Christine and other names that begin with Chris.
Cinda f English
Short form of Lucinda.
Claes m Swedish
Swedish short form of Nicholas.
Cléa f French
Short form of Cléopâtre.
Clem m English
Short form of Clement.
Cléo f French
Short form of Cléopâtre.
Cleo f & m English
Short form of Cleopatra, Cleon or Cleopas.
Cleopas m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Shortened form of the Greek name Kleopatros (see Cleopatra). In the New Testament Cleopas is a disciple who sees Jesus after his resurrection.
Cletus m English
Short form of Anacletus. This name is sometimes used to refer to the third pope, Saint Anacletus. It can also function as an Anglicized form of Kleitos.
Cleve m English
Short form of Cleveland.
Cliff m English
Short form of Clifford or Clifton.
Clint m English
Short form of Clinton. A notable bearer is American actor Clint Eastwood (1930-), who became famous early in his career for his western movies.
Clovis m History, French
Contemporary spelling, via the Latinized form Clodovicus, of the Germanic name Hludwig (see Ludwig). Clovis was a Frankish king who united the Franks under his rule in the 5th century. The name was subsequently borne by two further Merovingian kings.
Coba f Dutch
Short form of Jacoba.
Cobus m Dutch
Short form of Jacobus.
Col m Medieval English
Medieval short form of Nicholas.
Colette f French
Short form of Nicolette. Saint Colette was a 15th-century French nun who gave her money to the poor. This was also the pen name of the French author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954).
Cor m Dutch
Short form of Cornelis.
Cora f English, German, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Kore. It was not used as a given name in the English-speaking world until after it was employed by James Fenimore Cooper for a character in his novel The Last of the Mohicans (1826). In some cases it may be a short form of Cordula, Corinna and other names beginning with a similar sound.
Črt m Slovene
Short form of Črtomir.
Curt m English
Either a variant of Kurt or short form of Curtis.
Cy m English
Short form of Cyrus or Cyril.
Cyndi f English
Short form of Cynthia.
Dante m Italian
Medieval short form of Durante. The most notable bearer of this name was Dante Alighieri, the 13th-century Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy.
Darla f English
Variant of Darlene using the suffix la.
Dave m English
Short form of David.
Deasún m Irish
Irish shortened form of Deasmhumhain (see Desmond).
Deb f English
Short form of Deborah.
Dee f & m English
Short form of names beginning with D. It may also be given in reference to the Dee River in Scotland.
Delbert m English
Short form of Adelbert. As an American name it was first used in the New York area by people of Dutch ancestry.
Delia 2 f English
Short form of Adelia or Bedelia.
Delma f English
Possibly a short form of Adelma.
Demi f Greek, English (Modern)
Alternate transcription of Greek Δήμη or Ντίμι or Ντίμη (see Dimi), as well as a short form of Demetria. A famous bearer is American actress Demi Moore (1962-), and it is because of her that the name rose in popularity in the United States in the late 1980s. Though some sources claim Moore's birth name is Demetria, the actress herself has said she was born as Demi and named after a makeup product. The name received a further boost after 2008 with the release of the debut album by the singer Demi Lovato (1992-), who pronounces the name differently than the older actress. Lovato's birth name is Demetria.
Den m English
Short form of Dennis.
Dena f English
Possibly a short form of names ending with dena. It has also been used as a variant of Deanna.
Des m English
Short form of Desmond.
Desi m & f English
Diminutive of Desmond, Desiree and other names beginning with a similar sound. In the case of musician and actor Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) it was a diminutive of Desiderio.
Detta f English (Rare)
Short form of names that end in detta.
Dex m English
Short form of Dexter.
Di f English
Short form of Diana.
Dick 2 m Dutch
Short form of Diederik.
Dieuwe m Frisian
Frisian short form of Dieuwer or Dieuwert.
Dimi f Greek
Short form of Dimitra.
Dimos m Greek
Short form of Dimitrios or Dimosthenis.
Dina 2 f Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English
Short form of names ending in dina, such as Bernardina or Ondina. As an English name, this can also be a variant of Deanna.
Dino m Italian, Croatian
Short form of names ending in dino or tino.
Dion m Ancient Greek, English
Short form of Dionysios and other Greek names beginning with the Greek element Διός (Dios) meaning "of Zeus". This was the name of a 4th-century BC tyrant of Syracuse. It has been used as an American given name since the middle of the 20th century.
Dita f Czech, German, Latvian
Short form of names containing dit, such as Judita, and German names beginning with Diet, such as Dietlinde.
Dölf m Limburgish
Limburgish short form of Adolf.
Dolly f English
Diminutive of Dorothy. Doll and Dolly were used from the 16th century, and the common English word doll (for the plaything) is derived from them. In modern times this name is also sometimes used as a diminutive of Dolores.
Dolph m English
Short form of Adolph.
Dom m English
Short form of Dominic.
Domas m Lithuanian
Short form of Dominykas or Domantas.
Dóra f Hungarian, Icelandic
Short form of Dorottya and names that end in dóra, such as Teodóra or Halldóra.
Doug m English
Short form of Douglas.
Dre m English
Short form of Andre. A famous bearer is the American rapper and music producer Dr. Dre (1965-), born Andre Young.
Drew m English
Short form of Andrew.
Dries m Dutch
Short form of Andries.
Dulf m Limburgish
Limburgish short form of Adolf.
Dye f Medieval English
Medieval short form of Dionysia.
Džejla f Bosnian
Short form of Džejlana.
Ea 2 f Danish, Norwegian
Short form of names ending in ea.
Ebbe m Danish, Swedish
Danish short form of Asbjørn.
Eben m English
Short form of Ebenezer.
Ed m English, Dutch
Short form of Edward, Edmund and other names beginning with Ed.
Edmé m French
Short form of Edmond, used independently.
Edu m Spanish, Portuguese
Short form of Eduardo.
Efe 2 m & f Western African, Urhobo
Short form of Efemena and other names containing efe "wealth".
Eike m & f Low German, German
Originally a short form of Ekkehard and other names beginning with the Old High German element ekka, Old Saxon eggia meaning "edge, blade". This name was borne by Eike of Repgow, who compiled the law book the Sachsenspiegel in the 13th century.
Eka 2 f Georgian
Short form of Ekaterine.
Elea f English
Short form of Eleanor. This was also the name of an ancient Italian town (modern Velia) that is well known for being the home of the philosopher Parmenides and his student Zeno of Elea, who was famous for his paradoxes.
Eli 3 f Spanish, Norwegian, Danish
Spanish, Norwegian and Danish short form of Elisabet or Elin.
Eliso f Georgian
Georgian short form of Elizabeth.
Elīza f Latvian
Short form of Elizabete.
Eliza f English, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Hungarian, Georgian
Short form of Elizabeth. It was borne by the character Eliza Doolittle in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion (1913) and the subsequent musical adaptation My Fair Lady (1956).
Ella 2 f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Hungarian
Diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen 1 and other names beginning with El. It can also be a short form of names ending in ella.
Elle f English (Modern)
Diminutive of Eleanor and other names beginning with El. This name can also be given in reference to the French pronoun elle meaning "she".... [more]
Elma f Dutch, English, German (Rare)
Short form of Wilhelmine or names ending in elma, such as Anselma. It has also been recorded as a combination of Elizabeth and Mary, as in the case of the 19th-century daughter of the Earl of Elgin, who was named using her mother's first and middle names.
Elmo m Italian, English, Finnish, Estonian
Originally a short form of names ending with the Old German element helm meaning "helmet, protection", such as Guglielmo or Anselmo. It is also a derivative of Erasmus, via the old Italian short form Ermo. Saint Elmo, also known as Saint Erasmus, was a 4th-century martyr who is the patron of sailors. Saint Elmo's fire is said to be a sign of his protection.... [more]
Els f Dutch
Short form of Elisabeth.
Elsa f German, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Finnish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English
Short form of Elisabeth, typically used independently. Elsa von Brabant is the lover of Lohengrin in medieval German tales, and her story was expanded by Richard Wagner for his opera Lohengrin (1850). The name had a little spike in popularity after the 2013 release of the animated Disney movie Frozen, which featured a magical princess by this name.
Else f Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch
Short form of Elisabeth, used independently.
Elsie f English, Swedish
Diminutive of Elizabeth.
Elvi f Finnish, Estonian
Short form of Elviira.
Elvy f Swedish
Swedish short form of Elvira.
Elzė f Lithuanian
Short form of Elžbieta.
Em f English
Short form of Emily or Emma.
Emma f English, French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Latvian, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element irmin meaning "whole" or "great" (Proto-Germanic *ermunaz). It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of King Ethelred II (and by him the mother of Edward the Confessor) and later of King Canute. It was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, who is sometimes called Hemma.... [more]
Emmi f Finnish
Short form of names beginning with Em.
Ena 2 f Croatian
Short form of Irena.
Encarna f Spanish
Short form of Encarnación.
Enzo m Italian
The meaning of this name is uncertain. In some cases it seems to be an old Italian form of Heinz, though in other cases it could be a variant of the Germanic name Anzo. In modern times it is also used as a short form of names ending in enzo, such as Vincenzo or Lorenzo.
Ern m English
Short form of Ernest.
Essie f English
Diminutive of Estelle or Esther.
Esta f English
Diminutive of Esther.
Etel f Hungarian
Short form of Etelka.
Ethel f English
Short form of names beginning with the Old English element æðele meaning "noble". It was coined in the 19th century, when many Old English names were revived. It was popularized by the novels The Newcomes (1855) by William Makepeace Thackeray and The Daisy Chain (1856) by C. M. Yonge. A famous bearer was American actress and singer Ethel Merman (1908-1984).
Etta f English
Short form of Henrietta and other names that end with etta. A famous bearer was the American singer Etta James (1938-2012), who took her stage name from her real given name Jamesetta.
Ettie f English
Diminutive of Henrietta and other names ending with etta or ette.
Eula f English
Short form of Eulalia.
Ferdi m German, Dutch
Short form of Ferdinand.
Fina f Italian, Spanish
Short form of Serafina. Saint Fina, also known as Saint Serafina, was a 13th-century girl from the town of San Gimignano in Italy.
Flick f & m English (Rare)
Diminutive of Felicity. In some cases it can be a nickname from the English word flick.
Flo f English
Short form of Florence or Flora.
Fran m & f Spanish, English, Croatian, Slovene
Short form of Francis, Frances or related names.
France 1 f French
From the name of the country, sometimes considered a feminine form of Frank or short form of Françoise, both of which are ultimately related to the name of the country.
Fred m English, Dutch, German, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian
Short form of Frederick and other names containing the same element. A famous bearer was the American actor and dancer Fred Astaire (1899-1987). It was also borne by the cartoon caveman Fred Flintstone on the television series The Flintstones (1960-1966).
Freda f English
Short form of names ending in freda or fred, such as Winifred or Alfreda.
Freek m Dutch
Dutch short form of Frederick.
Frida 1 f German, Germanic
Originally a short form of names containing the Old German element fridu meaning "peace" (Proto-Germanic *friþuz). A famous bearer was the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954).
Funmilayo f Western African, Yoruba
Means "give me joy" in Yoruba, also a short form of Olufunmilayo or Oluwafunmilayo.
Gabe m English
Short form of Gabriel.
Gail f English
Short form of Abigail.
Gala 1 f Russian
Short form of Galina.
Gani m Filipino, Tagalog
Short form of Isagani.
Garen m Armenian
Short form of Garegin.
Gary m English
From an English surname that was derived from a Norman given name, which was itself originally a short form of names beginning with the Old German element ger meaning "spear". This name was popularized in the late 1920s the American actor Gary Cooper (1901-1961), who took his stage name from the city of Gary in Indiana where his agent was born. It was especially popular in the 1940s and 50s, breaking into the American top ten in 1950, though it has since waned.
Gene m English
Short form of Eugene.
Genė f Lithuanian
Short form of Genovaitė.
Geneva f English
Possibly a shortened form of Genevieve. It could also be inspired by the name of the city in Switzerland. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.
Gero m German, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the Old Frankish element gair, Old High German ger meaning "spear" (Proto-Germanic *gaizaz).
Gerta f German
Short form of Gertrud.
Gia f Italian (Rare)
Diminutive of Gianna.
Gianna f Italian, Greek, English (Modern)
Italian short form of Giovanna and a Modern Greek variant of Ioanna.
Gianni m Italian
Italian short form of Giovanni.
Gil 2 m English
Short form of Gilbert and other names beginning with Gil.
Gilda f Italian, Portuguese
Originally an Italian short form of Ermenegilda and other names containing the Old German element gelt meaning "payment, tribute, compensation". This is the name of a character in Verdi's opera Rigoletto (1851). It is also the name of a 1946 American movie, starring Rita Hayworth in the title role.
Gill f English
Short form of Gillian.
Gina f Italian, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Short form of Georgina, Regina, Luigina and other names ending in gina. It can also be used as a diminutive of Virginia or Eugenia. It was popularized in the 1950s by Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida (1927-2023), whose birth name was Luigina.
Gino m Italian
Italian short form of names ending in gino.
Gio m Georgian
Short form of Giorgi.
Giò m & f Italian
Short form of Giovanni and other names beginning with Gio.
Gisa f German
German short form of Giselle.
Gita 2 f Czech, Latvian
Czech and Latvian short form of Margita or Brigita.
Gitta f German, Hungarian
German short form of Brigitta and a Hungarian short form of Margit.
Giusi f & m Italian
Short form of Giuseppa, Giuseppina or Giuseppe.
Greet f Dutch
Dutch short form of Margaret.
Greg m English
Short form of Gregory.
Gregg m English
Short form of Gregory.
Greta f German, Italian, Swedish, Lithuanian, Polish, English
Short form of Margareta. A famous bearer of this name was the Swedish actress Greta Garbo (1905-1990).
Gretta f English
Variant of Greta.
Guim m Catalan
Short form of Guillem.
Gus 1 m English
Short form of Augustus or Angus.
Gusta f Dutch
Short form of Augusta.
Gustas m Lithuanian
Short form of Augustas and other names containing gust.
Gwen f Welsh, English
From Welsh gwen, the feminine form of gwyn meaning "white, blessed". It can also be a short form of Gwendolen, Gwenllian and other names beginning with Gwen.
Haimo m Germanic
Short form of Germanic names beginning with the Old Frankish element haim, Old High German heim meaning "home" (Proto-Germanic *haimaz).
Hanne 1 f & m Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch
Danish and Norwegian short form of Johanne, or a German and Dutch short form of Johanna. This can also be a Dutch short form of Johannes (masculine).