Nicknames that became given names in Brazil

Nicknames for compound names are a sensation, like Malu, which is Maria Luiza's nickname, or Maju, Maria Júlia's nickname.

In recent decades it has been possible to notice a significant growth of nicknames that have become given names. This happens because the shortened and affectionate versions gained more prominence than the full spelling. Thus, many parents have already entered this reality and started to register their children with some of the most famous nicknames, check it out.

Female names that were nicknames

It is more common for girls to use a nickname as a first name, especially when this nickname comes from a compound name. Below, you can see which female nicknames have become names here in Brazil in recent years:

• Bel: Initially, the name Bel was a nickname, which could have come from either Isabel, Isabelle or even Mabel. However, this record is increasingly common in
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  registry offices;
• Bella: Still in the “Isabelas” saga, we have the nickname “Bella”, which appeared outside Brazil, but started to become very common in recent years;
• Liz: Another name that derived from a nickname is the name “Liz”. Previously, this was the nickname of Eliza or Elizabete, especially outside Brazil. However, its simpler spelling also refers to fleurs-de-lis;
• Maju: As we mentioned, compound names usually generate good nicknames, as is the case of Maju, Maria Júlia's nickname. But many moms gave up on the two names and opted for Maju only;
• malu: Similarly, we have the name Malu, which is the nickname of the compound name Maria Luiza, also very popular in Brazil.

Male names that were nicknames

Boys are also not far behind when it comes to first names originating from nicknames. In this case, it is more common to use the nickname here in Brazil when the name was foreigner, but there are some very Brazilian examples as we will see below:

• Boy: Everyone in Brazil knows at least one Chico, but what few know is that this name is Francisco's nickname. Currently it is very common to see it as a first name;
• Guto: Another very common example in Brazil is the name Guto, which originally appears as a nickname for Augusto or Gustavo, but over time it gained autonomy;
• Leo: Next, we have the name Leo, which is the nickname of the name Leonardo, of Italian origin, or even Leandro;
• Theo: Finally, we have the name Theo, whose origin refers to the English name Theodoro, which even had some success here in Brazil, but which was popularized by Theo.

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