A reader named Becky recently emailed me with a rather cool request:
We’re looking for a girl name that has an actual spelling and letter combinations to represent the word. For example Evie (EV) and Katie (KT). Any suggestions would be great!
Here’s a long list of (mostly female) names that can be spelled with the names of letters. Some of the letter strings don’t quite replicate the pronunciation of the corresponding name, but, even if they don’t match perfectly, they do come pretty close.
- AC for Acie
- AD for Adie
- AN for Ayen
- AV for Avie
- CL for Ciel
- DM for Diem
- ED for Edie
- EV for Evie
- FE for Effie
- GG for Gigi
- GO for Gio
- IC for Icie
- IO for Io
- IV for Ivy
- JL for Jayelle
- JN for Jayen
- KC for Casey
- KD for Kady
- KL for Kayelle
- KN for Kayen
- KT for Katie
- LC for Elsie
- LD for Eldie
- LG for Elgie
- LE for Ellie
- LN for Ellen
- LS for Ellesse (or Ellis)
- LX for Elex (or Alex)
- ME for Emmie
- OC for Ocie
- OD for Odie
- ON for Owen
- PO for Pio
- PT for Petey
- RB for Arbie
- RC for Arcie
- RD for Ardie
- RE for Ari
- RG for Argie
- RP for Arpi
- RT for Artie
- SE for Essie
- SP for Espie
- ST for Estie
- SX for Essex
- XE for Exie
- XL for Excel
- LNE for Eleni
- LNO for Eleno
- LOD for Elodie
- LRE for Ellery
- MEL for Emiel (or Amiel)
- MLE for Emily
- MLN for Emilyn
- MRE for Emery
- MRL for Emeril
- RLE for Areli
- REL for Ariel/Arielle
- REN for Arien/Arienne
- RME for Aremi
- SEN for Essien
- RLEO for Aurelio
Can you guys think of any others? Let me know and I’ll add them!
Update, 2015: Here’s a baby girl named Elloebee, a phonetic spelling of the acronym LOB (“legion of boom”).
Update, 2025: Just spotted the name Effely (FLE) in an article about Cambridgeshire baby names.
[Latest update: Feb. 2025]
How ’bout LOD – Elodie.
R.E.N. – Arienne (girl) or Arian (boy)
I.V. – Ivy
D = Dee
DD = Deedee
LNE = Eleni
GG = Gigi
J = Jaye
SE = Essie
I have a friend whose daughter has the initials I.V., and they call her Ivy. And I once knew a Janine who signed her name “J-9” (even though that isn’t how it’s pronounced) and an Angela (not me) who signed her name “NG-La”.
If you don’t mind a stretch, NG could be Angie, and LX could be Alex
Oh, those are all great. Thanks guys.
(Can’t believe I missed IV…)
This game reminds me that the great Art Deco illustrator Erté, born Romain de Tirtoff, took his pseudonym from the French pronunciation of his initials, “R.T.”
I used to work with a lady whose name was DeeBee.
OH and I went to school (late 90’s so no chef inspiration) with a girl whose name was Emerell (MRL)
Uh, LU or LA for Ella? I don’t know if that works…
I once dreamt of the name Adie (AD) and later did find it in some baby name books, usually listed as a diminutive of other names.
A reader named Lydia recently emailed me a good one: ON for Owen.
I was reading about Ocie Lee “O.C.” Smith earlier today and realized that this was another letter-combination name. Plus there are a couple more that follow the pattern:
AC = Acie
IC = Icie
OC = Ocie