We’re all on a first-name nickname basis now - even the babies

Australia's love of shortened names is now being hardcoded into birth certificates.

Aussie culture’s love of shortening names is now being hardcoded into birth certificates - and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Choosing a baby name used to come with a certain reverence. Something that looked good on a diploma. Something that wouldn’t get a snicker in the boardroom later down the track.

But today’s parents? We’re more likely to ask: Does it look cute on a baby onesie? Does it have nickname energy straight out the gate? Can I yell it from across a park without sounding like a Downton Abbey cast member?

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The name game is changing

According to McCrindle’s 2025 Baby Name Report, the trend is clear: Aussie parents are putting the nicknames we used to save for playgrounds and footy fields straight onto birth certificates. Frankie, not Francesca. Lenny, not Leonard. Millie, not Amelia. It’s official: we’re in our nickname era.

The report found that younger generations - namely Gen Y and Gen Z parents - are leading the charge, leaning toward names that feel casual, warm, and familiar. Less stiff-collar, more soft-wrap carrier.

As McCrindle puts it, we’re increasingly choosing names that feel “personal and less formal.”

And honestly? It tracks.

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Say it loud, say it short

This is the generation who gave us avo instead of avocado, and said, “Nah, I don’t want to wait six months to know if we get vibes, let’s do a gender reveal at 14 weeks!”

We like shortcuts. We like connection. We like skipping the fluff and getting to the good stuff - and now our baby names are following suit.

Because while Charlotte is lovely, Lottie is the one doing TikToks in oversized sunglasses. Alexander is strong and timeless, but Zander is probably out there on his balance bike, popping monos down the driveway.

Still, if you’re worried your Lenny might not get taken seriously in a job interview 30 years from now, don’t be. Chances are he’ll be interviewing someone named Mav.

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Would you put a nickname on a birth certificate? Source: Supplied.

So if you’re expecting and vibing with this playful, Aussie-as trend, here’s some inspo to get your nickname juices flowing.

10 cool nicknames-as-first-names for boys in 2025

Leo: Short for Leonard or Leonardo
Archie: Short for Archibald
Teddy: Short for Theodore or Edward
Alfie: Short for Alfred
Lenny: Short for Leonard
Zeke: Short for Ezekiel
Freddie: Short for Frederick
Sonny: Traditionally a pet name or nickname, now a name in its own right
Ozzy: Short for Oswald, Osbourne or Oscar
Maxie: Short for Maxwell or Maximus

10 sweet nicknames-as-first-names for girls in 2025

Frankie: Short for Frances or Francesca
Lottie: Short for Charlotte
Maggie: Short for Margaret or Magnolia
Evie: Short for Evelyn or Eva
Billie: Short for Wilhelmina or Belinda
Nellie: Short for Eleanor, Helen, or Penelope
Millie: Short for Amelia, Camilla, or Millicent
Tilly: Short for Matilda
Dottie: Short for Dorothy
Romy: Short for Rosemary or Romilly

Originally published as We’re all on a first-name nickname basis now - even the babies