Full Names for Nikki, etc.

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These days, Nikki was most likely your friend's childhood nickname (or if you're my age, your mom's childhood nickname). In fact, the little girls with names on this list are probably Nico or Colette. We still see Nikki around, even on younger generations. One such Nikki won the most recent season of The Bachelor. So whether you want to call your daughter Nikki, Nico, Colette, Coco, or the like, I have come up with some names you should consider.

Expected:
Nicole- She sounds very dated now.
Nicolette- I think this is a good choice, my only hesitation is that is sounds like Nicorette.
Veronica- Veronica sounds slightly dated, but that gives her charm. Ready for revival.

Unique:
Monica- Another dated one, but less so if you call her Nico.
Nicola- A fresh way to honor a Nicole.
Nicolina- A fanciful elaboration.
Nicoline- I would go with Nicolina

Unheard of:
Danica- She has two great namesakes, Danica Patrick and Danica McKellar.
Nika- Sweet and spunky. She doesn't need a nickname.
Nikita- She comes with bonus nickname Kiki.
Nikolia- This Greek name would be a great choice for families looking to honor a Nicole as well as their heritage.

Full Names for Callie and Cali

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Do you have any names where you hate it spelled one way but love it the other? That's true for me with Cali and Callie. I dislike the Cali spelling (it looks like California, that's confusing!), but think Callie is adorable. Callie is more popular, but Cali is rising quickly. They both work on their own, but there are some great full name options for them.

Expected:
California- It only makes sense if you're calling her Cali.
Calla- Bonus points for being both beautiful and a flower name.
Calliope- A little much, but not if you call her Callie.
Callista- Gorgeous.

Unique:
Calandra- Great name, but my computer thought I was trying to spell calendar.
Calico- The Calico/Callie combo seems very country to me, which is good if that's what you're going for.
Calida- Pretty and understated.
Kalila- She lends herself to Lila more so than Cali/Callie/Kali
Kallan- Slightly masculine, but Callie evens her out.

Unheard of:
Calais- Pronounced cah-LAY. She would make a great middle.
Caledonia- Way too much.
Calypso- A fun, peppy name.
Kalindi- You could also call her Lindy.

Bird Names

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finally Spring. It's still colder than usual here in Chi-beria, but Spring has finally sprung. I compiled a list of bird names in honor of this lovely season.

Girl:
Ani
Besra
Dove
Emerald
Kea
Lark
Myna
Phoebe
Raven
Sora
Swan
Topaz
Wren

Boy:
Drake
Hawk
Finch
Heron
Jay

Either:
Crane
Robin
Sparrow
Teal

Alternatives to Alexander

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Alexander is a great name. However, he's just too popular for some people. If you're in that boat, check out these alternatives.

Sight:
Alessandro- The Spanish form of Alexander. Definitely usable in America.
Anderson- Alexander's ending is Anderson's beginning. He feels a bit more upper crust than Alexander though.
Dexter- He's rising in popularity, due to the hit TV show. Dex makes a great nickname.

Sound:
Alistair- Another form of Alexander, but not nearly as widely used.
Calix- He's more similar to Alex than Alexander, but Calix is a really cool name.
Lysander- With the -ander names getting so popular, it's surprising that Lysander hasn't gotten any attention.

Style:
Adrian- I never liked it on a girl, Adrian seems so masculine to me.
Roman- They share ancient roots.
Sebastian- He's gaining speed on the charts, but Sebastian is not nearly at the level Alexander is.

Alternatives to Sophia

Sophia is my real name, and I've always hated how popular she's become. She's a beautiful name, but worn by too many girls. Here are some options for alternatives for Sophia, whether you're in love with her sight, sound, or style.

Sight:
Simona- Simona is a beautiful name, but would often get confused for Simone.
Sophronia- Making Sophia even more princessy.
Sosie- I adore Sosie. She makes a great alternative to the nickname Sophie. I like her on her own, buy many see her as a short for Sophia or Josephine.

Sound:
Fiona- She's lost her ogre touch. Go ahead and use her.
Ophelia- Lovely and Shakespearian.
Phoebe- I adore Phoebe. I expect to see her on the rise.

Style:
Bianca- She's got the Latin flair Sophia has, but is way less common.
Josephine- Josephine is great, and has many wonderful nicknames.
Louisa- My latest favorite nicknames for Louisa are Loulie and Lilou.




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Alternatives to Olivia

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Many parents think Olivia is a great name for a girl, but want something less common. Whether you're in love with the sight, sound, or style of Olivia, I have some options for you that are under the radar.

Sight:
Octavia- She starts with "O" and ends in -ia, just like Olivia. Plus, the nickname Tavi is cute and way less common than Livi (and there's Tavi Gevinson, I love her).
Olivette- Normally Olive would be on this list, but she's getting common, so on to the next similar name, Olivette. Yes, she seems like a little much, but the Olive- sound puts her on trend.
Ophelia- This beautiful Shakespearian name does not get enough attention.

Sound:
Liviana- She sounds like a blend of Olivia and Liliana, which many of today's parents will see as a plus.
Viva- Viva is a pretty name meaning "life."
Vivian- I hesitate to put her on this list since she's getting so common, but she's no where near Olivia, so Vivian is a good option for parents who want something in between top ten and top 200.

Style:
Adriana- She's the feminine form of Adrian, and has a similar make-up to Olivia.
Alexia- Peppier than Alexandra, but just as many syllables.
Carlotta- Carlotta is used more by Latin families, but would make a great sister name to Olivia.

Alternatives to Ava

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I have a couple new series coming up for you guys. First up is The Alternatives Series, focusing on alternatives to some of the most common names, filed under similarity to sight, sound, and style. The sight section is for people attracted to the look of the name, the sound section is for people who like how the name sounds, and the style section focuses on good sister or brother names that have similar aesthetic to the name. First name up is Ava. She's currently in the fifth position, and many parents are looking for similar names to use instead. Here are my suggestions.

Sight:
Avis- I love Avis. I know it's a rental car company, but her sound is the perfect mix of current and vintage. More people should be using her.
Avalyn- I hesitate to suggest Avalyn. It's technically a form of Evelyn, but looks like a smush between Ava and the popular Lyn suffix. If your moved by sight though, go with this one.
Eva- Eva is considerably less popular at 86, but expect her to be moving on up in the coming years.

Sound:
Avalon- Avalon is so similar to Ava, yet she doesn't make the top 1000.
Evelyn- A beautiful choice, but unfortunately she's not far behind Ava at 26.
Ever- You often see this as a pick for boys (short for Everett), but Ever makes a great word name for a daughter as well.

Style:
Lucy- Lucy would be a perfect sister for Ava. She's not quite as popular, but is still in the top 100.
Mina- Mina has the old-fashioned charm that Ava has, but is all the way down in the 800s. A great pick for parents looking for something less popular.
Ruby- Ruby is sweet and girly like Ava, but still has the retro spunk. She might break into the top 100 this year.