Baby names that can't be shortened

Want to ensure the baby name you've picked out for your little one can't be turned into a nickname you don't like? We've got a list of lovely little names that are short, sweet, and best of all, CAN'T be shortened.

This boys' name is simply Ace!

Meaning 'one' and 'unity', there's no way anyone will be able to shorten it into a nickname ... unless they just call your little boy 'A'.

Ada is a pretty, retro girls' name that means 'noble' from its German origin.

It was brought back into fashion thanks to Ada in hit TV show Peaky Blinders.

Ava, meaning 'life' or 'bird', is also another great choice.

Adam has always been a very popular boys' name – it's short, sweet and easy to spell.

Of Hebrew origin, it means 'son of the red Earth' and relates to the Old Testament.

Whether you choose to spell this name Alisha, Aleesha or Alicia, it makes a lovely little girls' name that could be shortened to 'Leesh', but that just can't compare!

Alicia is of Spanish origin, meaning 'noble'.

Alisha and Aleesha are used more in South Asian cultures, where it means 'protected by god'.

Amy is of French and Latin origin, meaning 'beloved'.

The girls' name was super popular until 2015, when it started falling out of favour.

Anne is of Hebrew, French and English origin, meaning 'grace'.

Did you know, Anne has been the name of six queens of England? As well as belonging to the Queen's only daughter!

This name has become popular across the globe thanks to Maisie Williams' character in Game of Thrones.

Of Sanskrit origin, it means 'noble'.

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Aus, or Tin? Hmm, the short versions of this place name don't sound quite right.

Of English origin, it means 'great' and 'magnificent'.

Ideal for a baby girl born between September and November, this name instantly makes us think of crunchy golden leaves and pumpkins.

Plus, it's always going to be Autumn - Aut and Tumn, just don't work!

This unisex name comes from the Gaelic word 'blár', meaning 'battle field'.

Since Leighton Meester played Blair in TV show Gossip Girl, this name has become more popular for girls than boys.

Blake is another unisex name, but is more commonly given to boys in the UK.

Of English origin, it means 'fair-haired' and 'dark'.

Bo is a sweet unisex name, which means 'to live'.

It might even make you think of Little Bo Peep, but you can't possibly come up with a shorter version of this moniker.

Parents in the UK much prefer to name baby girls Brooke than boys, but it's still a great gender-neutral name.

Of English origin, it means 'small stream'.

Carl is of German origin and means 'free man'.

Unless people are going to call your son 'Car', they'll struggle to shorten this moniker.

Ciara is an Irish name that means 'little dark one'.

It was more popular in the early '00s, when R&B singer Ciara was constantly in the charts.

Claire was a very popular name back in the '80s, but has dramatically decreased in popularity in the 21st century.

Of French origin, it means 'clear' and 'bright'.

Clara, meaning the same thing, is a more popular alternative that also can't be shortened.

Cole, meaning 'dark' and 'black coal', is traditionally a surname, but there's a bit of a baby name trend of using surnames as first names.

Will you be jumping on the trend, too?

Drew means 'strong and manly', and is considered as a short version of Andrew.

But Hollywood star Drew Barrymore has been flying the flag for this as a girls' name – just under 20 baby girls were given the name in 2019.

Ethan has been in the top 100 boys' names for the past 25 years! Could it have something to do with Tom Cruise's character in Mission Impossible, perhaps?

Of Hebrew origin, the name means 'strong' and 'firm'.

Evan is a Welsh name derived from Iefan, a form of John.

Although it's much more commonly given to baby boys, Evan is actually a unisex name.

This Biblical name could be due a serious comeback thanks to gripping TV drama Killing Eve.

Of Hebrew origin, it means 'life'.

Faith is a gentle girls' name that feels particularly prominent during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was most popular in the '00s, but could be making a comeback sooner than we think ...

Did you know Faye means 'fairy'? How cute!

With only one-syllable, there's no chance of this name being cut short.

Grace has managed to stay in the top 50 girls' names for the past two decades, so any baby Grace will be in very good company.

The only nickname we can think for this moniker is Gracie, which is just as lovely.

Harry might become Hazza among his nearest and dearest, but we can let that one slide.

The name Harry has been in the top 50 boys' names for yonks.

We all need a bit more hope in our lives, so why not give the name to your baby girl?

With only four letters and one syllable, this short but sweet name will be loved by all.

Hugo, meaning 'intellect' and 'mind' from its Spanish origin, really fell onto the baby name radar in 2012.

Perhaps it has something to do with Hugo Taylor's appearance in reality TV show Made in Chelsea, which started in 2011.

Ivy might make you think of Christmas, so it's a great choice for babies born in the winter months.

When Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their eldest daughter Blue Ivy in 2012, Ivy entered the top 100 baby girls' names for the first time, and has stayed in there ever since.

Of English origin, Jack means 'God is gracious'.

There's plenty of children's stories and films including the name that your little one can enjoy – Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack Sprat and Captain Jack Sparrow, of course.

Jake is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'supplanter'.

It's always been a top pick for parents, but it's gradually becoming less popular ... will you hold onto it for your son?

Jane also means 'God is gracious' from its English origin.

Haven't heard of that many Janes recently, right? The name is a fab choice for one that's not going to get chopped in half.

There's not much else you can do with the name Jay – it is what it is!

Of Latin origin, it means 'jaybird'. This would be a simple yet sweet pick for your son, if you can get past The Inbetweeners association.

What better name for your new bundle of joy than just that?

It's actually a unisex name, but you're more likely to meet baby girls called Joy.

Kai, meaning 'sea' from its Hawaiian origin, fell out of the top 100 boys' names in 2019 after holding its place for 20 years.

Wayne and Coleen Rooney chose the name for their first son in 2009.

Kiran is a unisex name of Indian heritage, meaning 'sunbeam'. Ideal for a baby who's going to brighten up your life!

Karen, meaning 'pure', could be another alternative.

Kit means 'bearer of Christ' and is traditionally short for Christopher.

The name shot up in popularity for baby boys in the mid 2010s, probably due to actor Kit Harrington who plays Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.

You might be most familiar with this name because of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's son, but Knox is actually of Scottish origin and means 'round hill'.

Leo could be shortened to Lee at a push, but what's the point with a name as lovely as this?

Leo is Latin for lion, as well as being a star sign.

It could be a nod to your son's birth month if he was born between 22 July and 22 August.

Someone might go a step too far and call her Lil, but Lily is a pretty name after the delicate white flower.

Lilies are associated with purity and innocence, and the name has stayed in the top 50 girls' names since the turn of the century.

Classic name Mark is of Latin origin, meaning 'warlike'.

The boys' name isn't as popular as it was in the '90s, but we don't think it'll ever really go extinct.

It's another name that hasn't budged from the top 100 boys' names in a VERY long time.

Max is of German origin and means 'greatest'.

Mia means 'mine' in Italian and Spanish, or 'bitter' from a Scandinavian origin.

Mia has been in the top 100 girls' names since 1997 and was the fifth most popular girls' name for UK parents in 2019.

We know you might not look at a squishy little baby face and think 'Ned', but we think there's something very cute about the boys' name.

Think about how much faster it'll be labelling all his school stuff with only three letters!

Another short and sweet girls' name is Nia.

In Swahili, Nia means 'resolve' or 'purpose'.

In Wales, it's a variation of the Irish name Niamh and means 'bright'.

There have been loads more baby Noras in the past few years, and we can see why.

The lovely Irish name means 'light'.

Of English origin, Paige means 'page to a lord'.

We've seen a few Paiges on our TV screens, from Paige Matthews in Charmed to Paige McCullers in Pretty Little Liars. And 2019 Love Island winner Paige Turley, too.

There's not many baby Pauls about nowadays, but it's still a strong and solid name that means 'small'.

Try coming up with a shorter nickname for this!

This Latin gem name has become more popular over the past 10 years.

Unless people are going to call your daughter Pear or Pea, it won't be shortened often.

Pip is a palindrome name, which means it's the same forwards as it is backwards – you can't go wrong with just three letters.

It's only just slightly more common for boys than girls in the UK.

Rae is of Hebrew and English origin, meaning 'ewe', so could be ideal for a baby born in spring.

With a slightly different spelling, Rey is the main character in the recent Star Wars films.

Raj is a classic boys' name of Indian origin, which means 'prince'.

There's not many babies named Raj in the UK, but it could suit your little prince.

Ralph interestingly means 'wolf-counsel', but the boys' name has a sweet, cheeky vibe to it.

It's also really shot up in popularity over the past few years, squeezing into the top 100 boys' names in 2017.

After the deep red gemstone, Ruby was formerly the most common baby girls' name in England and Wales, in 2007.

It's not gone far though, only having fallen to 27th in 2019.

Sam is traditionally short for Samuel or Samantha, but it's been a baby name trend to use the shorter version at birth.

If you're already using the short version, there's no way to shorten it further!

It seemed like every baby girl was being named Sarah at one point, but it's fallen out of favour in the past few years, dropping out of the top 100 girls' names.

Although, it's perfect for your little princess – it literally means 'princess' in Hebrew.

Scott means 'from Scotland' ... no surprises there, then!

Once a top choice for parents, Scott has become more and more rare as the years go on. Could your little one bring it back into fashion?

Seth is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'appointed', and was the third son of Adam and Eve in the Bible.

It famously belongs to comedy actor Seth Rogen – the voice of Mantis in Kung Fu Panda.

Sid is of French origin and means 'Saint-Denis'.

It's still a pretty underrated name, with just under 25 boys' being named Sid in 2019.

There are barely any baby Sues anymore!

The girls' name, which means lily, can be short for Susan, too.

Yvonne is of French origin, meaning 'yew wood'.

This is a strong contender if you're after a more rare girls' name.

Zara has become a common name in European, Muslim and Middle Eastern cultures.

Of Arabic and Hebrew origin, it means 'blooming flower' or 'God remembers' and has been in the top 100 girls' names since 2002!