Baby girl names don't have to be elaborate, flowery things, and one trend that proves this are the parents who choose names they don't plan to use very often. Ever met a girl who goes by her initials? Sometimes it's a nickname she picked up along the way … but just as often parents actually plan for their baby girl to go by just two letters.
"For girls, initials can offer a gender-neutral alter ego to a feminine name," says explains Laura Wattenberg, baby name expert and founder of BabyNameWizard. If the possibility of a short, punchy initial-based nickname appeals to you, here are some names to get you started:
A.J.
Alexa Jane — A short (and hip!) version of Alexandra pairs well with the plainer and perennially popular Jane.
Alyssa Joelle — This variant of Alicia (which stands for nobility) creates great rhythm with Joelle — which plays into the hot trend among girls of French middle names with a stressed second syllable.
C.C.
Claudia Celeste — This first name hails from old Rome, while the middle French name adds an ethereal quality.
C.J.
Crystal Jade — A New Age name all the way with a surprisingly down-to-earth nickname.
Calliope Jo — This elaborate first name after a Greek muse — made popular by Grey's Anatomy character Calliope "Callie" Torres — begs for a short, snappy second name like Jo.
D.J.
Diana Juliette — This classy Latin first name (meaning "divine") gets a sweet flourish with the French diminutive of Julie at the end.
Donna Jo — This famous character from Full House was probably the first time D.J. hit our radar for girls. So, it makes sense we pay homage to her here with this Italian-inspired name (Donna is Italian for "lady").
E.V.
Evie — That's it. Get it? This plays off the growing trend of initials sounding just like the full first name.
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J.K.
Joanne Kathleen — Sound familiar, Harry Potter fans? This is J.K. Rowling's pen name; she was encouraged to use initials to hide her gender and avoid alienating male readers.
J.R.
Juliet Rae — This ultra-romantic first name gets a dash of cool with this feminine form of Ray, short for Raymond.
K.C.
Casey — Playing off the above-mentioned initials-pronounced-as-nickname trend.
Karli Crane — This feminine version of Carl or Charles picks up a nice echo with the "c" in the middle name.
K.T.
Katie — Yet another nod to the trend of making a name and its initials sound the same. So cute!
Katherine Taylor — This regal Greek first name pairs well with its more worldly "occupational" second name — which has long been used as a last name but is gaining popularity as a first or middle name in its own right (hello, Taylor Swift).
M.J.
Maria Joanna — A fancier, lilting twist to your usual Mary Jo.
M.K.
Mary Kate — Of Olsen twin fame, of course! The simplicity of this feminine name combined with its fun initial-based nickname are a nice combo.
P.J.
Penelope James — "James" is a hot name for girls, but combining it with the ultra long, feminine Penelope is a particularly refreshing mix!
Peyton Jolie — This Old English "place name" has a contemporary vibe for girls, plus Angelina Jolie fans will love this middle-name nod to their favorite celeb.
Pace Justice — Such a stately name for a girl; she's bound to do great things!
T.J.
Tara Jacqueline — This strong, simple Irish first name pairs well with the flourish of its French middle name.
Tabitha Jett — This ancient Greek first name is well complemented by the modern-sounding middle name.
How do you feel about nicknames derived from initials?
For more great baby name ideas, visit BabyNameWizard.
Images via Veronica Lara/shutterstock; © iStock.com/jaroon
