130 Cute Nicknames for Boys

These 130 cute boy nicknames include possible longer forms, helping you compare the short versions your family might use every day.

Updated August 28, 2026

by Emily Cline

Link copied

A baby in a white onesie smiles while being kissed on the cheek by an adult holding them closely.

In This Article

20 Classic Boy Nicknames
29 Familiar Boy Nicknames
43 Modern Boy Nicknames
21 Surname-Style Boy Nicknames

A nickname often becomes the name family and friends use most. It may be an established short form, a playful variation, or a name that develops naturally over time.

Some parents choose the full name first; others fall for a nickname and work backward. This list puts each nickname first, with one or more possible full names in parentheses for reference.

The sections include classics such as Teddy and Archie, familiar choices such as Ben and Jake, and newer nicknames such as Beck and Hux. Some are traditional short forms, while others are more creative possibilities.

20 Classic Boy Nicknames

These established short forms come from familiar full names, including Julian, Frederick, and Arthur.

1. Jules (Julian or Julius)

2. Gene (Eugene)

3. Reg or Reggie (Reginald)

4. Harry (Harold or Harrison)

5. Auggie or Gus (August or Augustus)

6. Cliff (Clifford)

7. Fred, Freddie, or Fritz (Frederick)

8. Archie or Arch (Archibald or Archer)

9. Izzy (Isaiah)

10. Ray (Raymond)

11. Albie (Albert or Albus)

12. Toby (Tobias)

13. Art or Artie (Arthur)

14. Abe (Abraham)

15. Don or Donny (Donald)

16. Laurie (Lawrence)

17. Mel (Melvin)

18. Al, Bert, or Bertie (Albert or Alberto)

19. Gil (Gilbert)

20. Kit (Christopher)

29 Familiar Boy Nicknames

1. Jake (Jacob)

2. Matt or Mattie (Matthew)

3. Mike or Mikey (Michael)

4. Dan or Danny (Daniel)

5. Will, Bill, Billy, or Liam (William)

6. Theo, Teddy, or Ted (Theodore)

7. Ben, Benny, or Benji (Benjamin)

8. Hank (Henry)

9. Alex, Zander, or Lex (Alexander)

10. Chris (Christopher or Christian)

11. Sam (Samuel)

12. Tony (Anthony or Antone)

13. Jack (Jackson)

14. Joe or Joey (Joseph or Josiah)

15. Max (Maxwell, Maximilian, or Maximo)

16. Eddie or Ed (Edward, Edwin, or Edmond)

17. Charlie, Chas, Chaz, or Chuck (Charles)

18. Wally (Wallace)

19. Ike (Isaac)

20. Walt (Walter)

21. Pat or Paddy (Patrick)

22. Andy or Drew (Andrew)

23. Frank or Frankie (Franklin or Francis)

24. Tommy or Tom (Thomas)

25. Nate (Nathaniel or Nathan)

26. Louie (Lewis or Louis)

27. Ollie (Oliver)

28. Terry (Terrance)

29. Brad (Bradley or Bradford)

43 Modern Boy Nicknames

1. Dash (Dashiell)

2. Ash (Ashton or Asher)

3. Ev (Everett or Everest)

4. Rett (Everett)

5. Jax (Jaxon)

6. Eli (Elijah or Elias)

7. Jas or Jazz (Jasper)

8. Beck (Beckett)

9. Russ or Rusty (Russell)

10. Grey (Greyson)

11. Thatch (Thatcher)

12. Dom (Dominic)

13. Dax (Daxton)

14. Cal (Callahan, Calvin, or Callen)

15. Dec (Declan)

16. Breck (Breckett or Breckham)

17. Teo (Mateo)

18. Hux (Huxley)

19. Quin or Q (Quinton)

20. Vin, Vince, or Vinny (Vincent)

21. Nico (Nicholas)

22. Zach (Zachary or Zachariah)

23. Dex (Dexter)

24. Rye (Ryder or Ryker)

25. Zeke (Ezekiel)

26. Mal, Chi, or Kai (Malachi or Malakai)

27. Finn (Finnegan, Finnick, or Phineas)

28. Seb or Bastian (Sebastian)

29. Gabe (Gabriel)

30. Remy (Remington)

31. Leo (Leonard, Leonardo, or Leopold)

32. Santi (Santiago)

33. Enzo (Lorenzo)

34. Len or Lenny (Lennox)

35. Brody (Broderick)

36. Manny (Manuel)

37. Ozzy (Oswald or Osmond)

38. Brant or Bran (Brantley)

39. Brent or Bren (Brentley)

40. Des or Desi (Desmond)

41. Jag (Jagger)

42. King (Kingston)

43. Lux (Luxton)

Related: Modern Boy Names

21 Surname-Style Boy Nicknames

These nicknames come from surnames that are also used as first names, with the longer form shown in parentheses.

1. Fitz, Ger, or Gerry (Fitzgerald)

2. Fitz or Pat (Fitzpatrick)

3. Andy or Anders (Anderson)

4. Mac (MacGregor or McAlister)

5. Griff (Griffin)

6. James (Jameson)

7. Rob, Robbie, or Robin (Robinson)

8. Cam (Camden or Campbell)

9. Camp (Campbell)

10. Monty or Monte (Montgomery)

11. Sully (Sullivan)

12. Ben or Benny (Bennett)

13. Ed or Eddy (Edison)

14. Jeff or Jeffy (Jefferson)

15. Nick (Nicholson)

16. Randy or Ran (Randolph)

17. Henry (Henderson)

18. Al, Ald, or Aldie (Aldridge)

19. Ty (Tyson)

20. Cab or Cabby (Cabot)

21. Linc (Lincoln)

17 Distinctive Boy Nicknames

These less familiar options include both established diminutives and more playful short forms.

1. Chan, Chance, or Chauncey (Chancellor)

2. Thad or Tad (Thaddeus)

3. Mav or Mave (Maverick)

4. Barney or Bernie (Bernard or Bernardo)

5. Raff or Raffi (Rafferty or Rafael)

6. Tenn, Tennie, or Tenns (Tennessee)

7. Wolf or Wolfie (Wolfgang)

8. Shep (Shepherd)

9. Sly (Sylvester)

10. Rock or Rocky (Rocket)

11. Rain or Rainy (Rainier)

12. Ari (Aurelius)

13. Beau (Beauregard)

14. Ken or Kenny (Kensington)

15. Bart or Barty (Bartholomew)

16. Chet or Chez (Chester)

17. Bo or Bozie (Boaz)

A nickname may be used as often as the formal name, so say each favorite with your child’s last name and picture using it at home, at school, and later in life. If you are considering several full names, make sure the nickname feels like a natural fit for each one.

If you prefer to choose the formal name first, see our baby names with the best nicknames. For names that work without a longer form, continue with our cute boy names. You can also visit our baby names hub.

Baby Names

Link copied

Author

Emily Cline

Hello! I'm Emily, a mother of two to a bouncing 1-year-old girl and a thoughtful 5-year-old boy who keep me on my toes! I'm a full-time working mom: a former K-6 teacher turned college education professor. Professionally, I specialize in elementary STEM education and curriculum design. I love to apply that knowledge as a mom by giving my kids creative learning experiences at home to keep them happy, busy, and learning! I'm passionate about finding the beauty and joy in motherhood as well.

Read full bio