Cute Names that Aren't Nicknames

As much as we love cute names, there is some controversy surrounding them. Will these names be taken seriously in adulthood?

Well, certain names, like Cosy and Benny, are better off as nicknames. Others, though, are cute and wear well into adulthood at once. Perhaps not all cute girls' and boys' names are nicknames. Here are some examples.

GIRLS' NAMES:

Ada (#209)-Ada begins with a long "a" sound and is just three letters long. I'm can't describe why it's cute, though, because it simply brings up the image of a cute little girl. Maybe pairing the long "a" sound with the "da" ending does the trick?

Eve (#484)-Has anyone said that classics can't be cute? Eve defies that claim. It is just three letters long and begins with the adorable long "e" sound. It's easy to picture a "little Eve", making it a less-popular alternative to fellow classic Lucy. 

Free (unranked)-Free is a bold contemporary choice while the other names on this list have more history. Yet, Free's ending "ee" sound is all it needs to get some cuteness. 

June (#201)-June's four-letter structure and long "u" sound is all it needs to sound cute. Nickname "Junie" feels cuter, but just June feels cute enough to make this post. 

Lucy (#48)-Lucy might be dismissed as a nickname, but it's really not. It's, instead, a timeless classic that also happens to be cute. Its long "u" sound, mid-"s" sound, and "ee" ending all do the trick. 

Mabel (#440)-Mabel is short and sweet. It begins with the cute "Mae" sound. Its ending "bel" sound also does the trick. Mabel also means "lovable", making its vibe even sweeter. 

Olive (#213)-Olive is an antique nature name that sounds a bit like "I love", giving it a sense of sweetness. 

Phoebe (#291)-Phoebe has a cuteness that's simple to argue: it has a long "ee" sound in the middle and at the end. It's also a classic, like Eve, Hope, and Lucy. 

Ruth (#231)-Ruth is serious, sure, but that doesn't mean it can't be cute. It shares its long "u" sound and four-letter structure with Lucy, making it an alternative. This vintage classic also connects to the "Baby Ruth" candy bar, adding to its cuteness. 

BOYS' NAMES:

Abel (#157)-Abel obviously rhymes with the feminine rhyming Mabel and retains its cuteness. Just pairing the long "a" sound with the "bel" ending is enough. Short form "Abe" is also cute.

Bear (#896)-Bear is an animal name that's just cuddly. There's the references to teddy bears, of course. Yet, Bear has other factors that make it cute. The term "bear hug" also contributes.

Henry (#12)-Classic Henry is regal, saintly, and cute all at once. That's, of course, because it ends in the "ee" sound.

James (#6)-Even classics that were never out of the top 100 can be cute. Evergreen James makes this list because there are cute references to this name. One of them is James Taylor's song, Sweet Baby James. It's easy to imagine a "little James", too. 

Otto (#427)-I don't know what exactly makes this cute, but the four-letter structure with "o" as a first and last letter along with double "t"s just sounds sweet. 

Percy (unranked)-Percy's "see" ending is enough to make it cute. Its cuteness could bring this name into wider use.

Wilbur (unranked)-Pairing "will" with the "bur" sound creates such a cute name. Otherwise, its cuteness is hard to explain.

What are your favorite cute non-nickname names?