Genealogists are always searching for that elusive ancestor in the official records. It may not be that they are not there, just that you are looking for the wrong name. I compiled this list of alternative and diminutives (shortened names) to help myself and anyone else who stumbles across it to find variations of names that can give you a hint of other names to search for.
Some of these nicknames are common and well known, but there are many alternative names that you would not be aware of. Also, some what appear to be nicknames may be full names in their own right. I hope you find this table useful. If you would like to add or correct this list, please contact families unearthed.
| Abby | Abigail |
| Abe | Abraham, Abram |
| Abram | Abraham |
| Aby | Abraham, Abram |
| Ada | Edith |
| Adrian | Hadrian |
| Aggie | Agnes |
| Aggy | Agnes |
| Aileen | Helen |
| Ailie | Alison, Allison |
| Ailie (Scottish) | Alice, Alicia, Helen |
| Alan | Allan |
| Alec | Alexander |
| Aleck | Alexander |
| Alex | Alexander |
| Alf | Alfred |
| Alfie | Alfred |
| Algy | Algernon |
| Alick | Alexander |
| Allie | Alice, Alicia |
| Ally | Alice, Alicia |
| Andy | Andrew |
| Ann, Anna, Anne | Annette, Hannah |
| Annabel | Annabella, Annaple |
| Annaple | Annabel, Annabella |
| Annie | Ann, Anna, Anne, Hannah, Annette |
| Archie | Archibald |
| Archy | Archibald |
| Augustin | Augustine |
| Austin | Augustine, Augustin |
| Bab | Barbara |
| Babbie | Barbara |
| Babs | Barbara |
| Baldie | Archibald |
| Barnabas | Barnaby |
| Barnaby | Barnabas |
| Barney | Bernard |
| Bart | Bartholomew |
| Bat | Bartholomew |
| Beatrice | Beatrix |
| Beatrix | Beatrice |
| Beck | Rebecca, Rebekah |
| Becky | Rebecca, Rebekah |
| Bel | Isabel, Isabella, Isabeau, Isobel, Arabella |
| Bella | Isabel, Isabella, Isabeau, Isobel, Arabella |
| Belle | Arabella |
| Ben | Benjamin |
| Bennet | Benedict |
| Benny | Benjamin |
| Bert | Bertram, Robert, Albert |
| Bertie | Bertha, Albert, Robert |
| Berty | Bertha |
| Bess | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Bessie | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Bessy | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Beth | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Betsy | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Betty | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Bex | Rebecca, Rebekah |
| Biddy | Bridget |
| Bill | William |
| Billie | William |
| Billy | William |
| Bob | Robert, Rupert |
| Bobby | Robert, Rupert |
| Caddie | Caroline |
| Caitlin | Kathleen |
| Carrie | Caroline, Carol |
| Cassie | Casimir |
| Casy | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine |
| Cate | Caitlin, Kathleen |
| Cathie | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen |
| Charley | Charles |
| Chas | Charles |
| Charlie | Charles |
| Chris | Christopher |
| Chrissie | Christina |
| Christie | Christina |
| Christy | Christian |
| Chuck | Charles |
| Cindy | Lucinda |
| Cis | Cecilia, Cecily |
| Cissie | Prescilla, Alicia, Cecila, Cecilia, Cecily |
| Cissy | Cecilia, Cecily |
| Claire | Clara, Clarice, Clarissa |
| Clare | Clara, Clarice, Clarissa |
| Claud | Claudius |
| Clement | Clementina, Clemintine |
| Connie | Constance |
| Corinna | Cora |
| Crispin | Crispian, Crispus |
| Crispus | Crispin, Crispian |
| Dan | Daniel |
| Danny | Daniel |
| Dave | David |
| Davy | David |
| Denis | Dennis, Denys |
| Di | Diana |
| Dick | Richard |
| Dicken | Richard |
| Dickie | Richard |
| Dickon | Richard |
| Dicky | Richard |
| Die | Diana |
| Dob | Robert, Rupert |
| Dobbin | Robert, Rupert |
| Dod | George |
| Doddy | George |
| Dol | Dorothea, Dorothy |
| Dolly | Dorothea, Dorothy |
| Dora | Dorothea, Dorothy, Theodora |
| Dot | Dorothea, Dorothy, Doris |
| Eck | Alexander |
| Ecky | Alexander |
| Ed | Edward, Edmund, Edwin |
| Eddie | Edward, Edmund, Edwin |
| Eddy | Edward, Edmund, Edwin |
| Edie | Adam |
| Effie | Euphemia |
| Eileen (Irish) | Helen |
| Ella | Eleanor, Elinor, Helen, Leonora |
| Ellen | Eleanor, Elinor, Helen, Leonora |
| Elsie | Alice, Alicia, Alison, Allison, Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth, Elspeth |
| Elspie | Elspeth |
| Emm | Emeline, Emmeline, Emily, Emma |
| Emmie | Emeline, Emmeline, Emily, Emma |
| Eneas | Aeneas |
| Essie | Esther, Hester, Hesther |
| Etta | Henrietta |
| Euphie | Euphemia |
| Eva | Evelina, Eveline, Evelyn |
| Eve | Evelina, Eveline, Evelyn |
| Fanny | Frances |
| Flo | Florence |
| Flossie | Florence |
| Floy | Florence |
| Francie | Francis |
| Frank | Francis |
| Frankie | Francis, Frederica |
| Fred | Frederic, Frederick |
| Freddie | Frederic, Frederick |
| Freddy | Frederic, Frederick |
| Gabe | Gabriel |
| Genie | Eugenia |
| Georgie | George, Georgina, Georgiana |
| Gertie | Gertrude |
| Gil | Gilbert |
| Greg | Gregory |
| Grissel | Griselda |
| Gritty | Margaret |
| Gus | Augustus |
| Gussie | Augustus |
| Gustus | Augustus |
| Hal | Henry |
| Harry | Henry, Harold |
| Hatty | Harriet, Harriot |
| Hen | Henry |
| Henny | Henry |
| Hetty | Henrietta |
| Hodge | Roger |
| Hodgekin | Roger |
| Horace | Horatio |
| Huggin | Hugh, Hugo |
| Hughie | Hugh, Hugo |
| Hughoc | Hugh, Hugo |
| Humph | Humphrey, Humphry |
| Hy | Henry |
| Ik | Isaac, Izaak |
| Ike | Isaac, Izaak |
| Inez (Portuguese) | Agnes |
| Isa | Isabel, Isabella, Isabeau, Isobel |
| Jack | John |
| Jake | Jacob |
| Janet | Jane, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jeames | James |
| Jean | Jane, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jeanie | Jane, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jeannie | Jane, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jem | James |
| Jemmy | James |
| Jen | Janet, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jennie | Janet, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jenny | Janet, Jean, Jeanne, Jeannette |
| Jeremy | Jeremiah, Jeremias |
| Jess | Janet |
| Jessie | Janet |
| Jim | James |
| Jimmie | James |
| Jimmy | James |
| Jo | Joan, Joanna, Johanna, Josephine |
| Jock | John |
| Joe | Joseph |
| Joey | Joseph |
| Johnnie | John |
| Johnny | John |
| Josh | Joshua |
| Josie | Josephine |
| Josy | Josephine |
| Jozy | Josephine |
| Judy | Judith |
| Jule | Julian, Julius |
| Jules | Julia, Juliet |
| Julie | Julia, Juliet |
| Kate | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen |
| Kath | Kathleen |
| Kathie | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen |
| Katie | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen |
| Katrine | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen |
| Ken | Kenneth |
| Kester | Christopher |
| Kit | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen, Christopher |
| Kitty | Catherine, Catherina, Katharine, Katherine, Kathleen |
| Larry | Laurence, Lawrence, Lorenzo (Italian) |
| Laura | Laurinda |
| Len | Leonard |
| Lena | Helen, Helena, Helene, Magdalene |
| Lenny | Leonard |
| Lettie | Letitia, Lettice |
| Lew | Lewis, Louis (French), Ludovic |
| Lewie | Lewis, Louis (French), Ludovic |
| Lex | Alexander |
| Lexie | Alexander |
| Libby | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Lilly | Lilian |
| Lily | Lilian |
| Lisa | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Liz | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Liza | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Lizzie | Elisabeth, Eliza, Elizabeth |
| Lorrie | Laurence, Lawrence, Lorenzo (Italian) |
| Lou | Lewis, Louis (French), Ludovic, Louisa, Louise |
| Louie | Lewis, Louis (French), Ludovic, Louisa, Louise |
| Lucy | Lucia (Italian), Lucinda |
| Luke | Lucas |
| Maddie | Madison, Madeline |
| Madge | Margaret |
| Mag | Margaret |
| Maggie | Margaret |
| Mamie | Mary, Miriam, Marion |
| Manny | Emmanuel, Immanuel |
| Margery | Margaret |
| Margie | Margaret |
| Marjorie | Margaret |
| Marjory | Margaret |
| Mark | Marcus, Marcius, Marcellus |
| Mat | Matilda, Mathilda, Matthew, Matthias (Greek), Martha |
| Matt | Matthew, Matthias (Greek) |
| Mattie | Matilda, Mathilda |
| Matty | Matilda, Mathilda, Martha |
| Maud | Matilda, Mathilda, Madeline, Magdalene |
| Maudlin | Madeline |
| May | Mary, Miriam |
| Meg | Margaret, Megan |
| Meggy | Margaret |
| Meta | Margaret |
| Mick | Michael |
| Micky | Michael |
| Mif | Myphanwy |
| Miffy | Myphanwy |
| Mike | Michael |
| Mina | Wilhelmena |
| Minella | Wilhelmena |
| Minnie | Mary, Miriam, Wilhelmena |
| Moll | Mary, Miriam |
| Molly | Mary, Miriam |
| Mose | Moses |
| Mosey | Moses |
| Nabby | Abigail |
| Nan | Ann, Anna, Anne, Hannah, Annette, Nancy |
| Nance | Nancy |
| Nancy | Ann, Anna, Anne, Hannah, Annette |
| Nanny | Ann, Anna, Anne, Hannah, Annette |
| Nat | Nathan, Nathanael, Nathaniel |
| Ned | Edward, Edmund |
| Neddy | Edward, Edmund |
| Nell | Eleanor, Elinor, Leonora, Helen, Helena, Helene |
| Nellie | Eleanor, Elinor, Helen, Leonora, Helena, Helene |
| Net | Antoinette |
| Nettie | Henrietta |
| Netty | Antoinette |
| Nic | Nicholas, Nicolas |
| Nick | Nicholas, Nicolas |
| Nina | Ann, Anna, Anne, Hannah, Antonina, Nancy |
| Nol | Oliver |
| Nolly | Oliver |
| Nora | Eleanor, Elinor, Helen, Leonora, Honora, Honaria |
| Norah | Honora, Honaria, Eleanor, Elinor, Helen, Leonora |
| Ollie | Oliver, Olive, Olivia |
| Olly | Oliver, Olive, Olivia |
| Paddy | Patrick, Patricius |
| Pat | Patrick, Patricius, Matilda, Mathilda, Martha |
| Patty | Matilda, Mathilda, Martha |
| Paul | Paulus, Paulinus |
| Peg | Margaret |
| Peggy | Margaret |
| Penny | Penelope |
| Pete | Peter |
| Peterkin | Peter |
| Phamie | Euphemia |
| Phemie | Euphemia |
| Pheny | Josephine |
| Phil | Philip |
| Phyl | Phyllis, Phillis |
| Pip | Philip |
| Pippa | Philippa |
| Pol | Mary, Miriam |
| Polly | Mary, Miriam, Pollyanna |
| Prudy | Prudence |
| Prue | Prudence |
| Ralph | Rodolph, Rodolphus, Rudolph, Rudolphus |
| Ray | Raymond, Raymund |
| Reg | Reginald, Reynold |
| Reggie | Reginald, Reynold |
| Rick | Roderick, Roderic, Richard |
| Rob | Robert, Rupert |
| Robbie | Robert, Rupert |
| Robin | Robert, Rupert |
| Rod | Roderick, Roderic |
| Roddie | Roderick, Roderic |
| Roddy | Roderick, Roderic |
| Rodge | Roger |
| Ron | Ronald |
| Rosie | Rosa, Rosabel, Rosabella, Rosalia, Rosalie, Rosalind, Rosanna |
| Roxy | Roxana |
| Sal | Sarah, Sara |
| Sally | Sarah, Sara |
| Sam | Samuel |
| Sammy | Samuel |
| Sanders | Alexander |
| Sandy | Alexander |
| Sawnie | Alexander |
| Seb | Sebastian |
| Sibella | Isabel, Isabella, Isabeau, Isobel |
| Sim | Simon, Simeon, Simone |
| Sis | Cecilia, Cecily |
| Sisely | Cecilia, Cecily |
| Sissie | Cecila, Prescilla, Alicia |
| Sly | Silvester, Sylvester |
| Sol | Solomon |
| Sophie | Sophia |
| Sophy | Sophia |
| Steenie | Stephen, Steven |
| Steve | Stephen, Steven |
| Stevie | Stephen, Steven |
| Sue | Susan, Susanna, Susannah |
| Suke | Susan, Susanna, Susannah |
| Suky | Susan, Susanna, Susannah |
| Susie | Susan, Susanna, Susannah |
| Susy | Susan, Susanna, Susannah |
| Tam | Thomas |
| Tammie | Thomas |
| Tave | Octavius, Octavus |
| Tavy | Octavius, Octavus |
| Ted | Edward |
| Teddy | Edward |
| Teenie | Christina |
| Terry | Theresa |
| Tib (Scottish) | Isabel, Isabella, Isabeau, Isobel |
| Tibbie (Scottish) | Isabel, Isabella, Isabeau, Isobel |
| Tilda | Matilda, Mathilda |
| Tillie | Matilda, Mathilda |
| Tim | Timothy |
| Tina | Christina |
| Toby | Tobiah, Tobias |
| Tom | Thomas |
| Tommy | Thomas |
| Tony | Anthony, Antony |
| Tracie | Theresa |
| Trudy | Gertrude |
| Vest | Silvester, Sylvester |
| Vester | Silvester, Sylvester |
| Vic | Victor |
| Vicky | Victoria |
| Vinty | Vincent |
| Wat | Walter |
| Watty | Walter |
| Will | William |
| Willie | William |
| Willy | William |
| Wilmett | Wilhelmena |
| Wilmot | Wilhelmena |
| Winnie | Winifred, Winfred |
| Xina | Christina |
| Yiddy | Adam |
| Zach | Zachariah, Zechariah |
| Zacky | Zachariah, Zechariah |
| Zak | Zachariah, Zechariah |
| Zeke | Ezekial |
