It’s often said that good things come in small packages. Babies are no exception, although it can take a little while for their personalities to develop enough to enjoy, and they don’t stay so small for long. However, some people do remain short or petite their whole lives, often making up for it with attitude, well represented by a name like Lorćan, an Irish name meaning ‘little fierce one’.
If you have small genes in your family or are trying to find a name that encapsulates the small stature of the person being named, there are lots of options for each gender. Most names focus on being small or little rather than short, but the terms are often used interchangeably when thinking about stature.
Without drawing too much attention to the lack of height, a boy might be called Paul, a Latin name meaning ‘small’ or ‘humble’; a great quality to aspire to emulate. Alternatively, the Welsh name Vaughn, meaning ‘little’ is a strong-sounding name, great for a strong-willed boy.
For a girl, being petite is often more acceptable and desirable. There are several names meaning ‘little girl’ like Talitha (Aramaic) and Cosette (French), among others. Small girls are often seen as delicate and to be protected; physical attributes that don’t usually represent their strength of character.
Adamnan
Meaning: Little Adam
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Adan
Meaning: Little fire
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Ahana
Meaning: From the little ford
Origin: Irish
Gender: Girl
Amo
Meaning: Little eagle
Origin: French
Gender: Boy
Amoretta
Meaning: Little love
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Angeletta
Meaning: Little angel
Origin: French
Gender: Girl
Armida
Meaning: Little armed one
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Ayasha
Meaning: Little one
Origin: Native American
Gender: Girl
Bambi
Meaning: Little child
Origin: Italian
Gender: Girl
Barna
Meaning: Short form of Barnabas
Origin: Hungarian
Gender: Boy
Bassett
Meaning: Short
Origin: English
Gender: Boy
Birdie
Meaning: Little bird
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Bonita
Meaning: Pretty little one
Origin: Spanish
Gender: Girl
Brenda
Meaning: Little raven
Origin: Gaelic
Gender: Girl
Capek
Meaning: Little stork
Origin: Czechoslovakian
Gender: Boy
Carine
Meaning: Little darling
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Cerin
Meaning: Little dark one
Origin: Gaelic
Gender: Girl
Chavatangakwunua
Meaning: Short rainbow
Origin: Native American
Gender: Boy
Chica
Meaning: Pet name meaning little girl
Origin: Spanish
Gender: Girl
Cort
Meaning: Short
Origin: Norse
Gender: Boy
Courtenay
Meaning: From the court, or short nose
Origin: French
Gender: Unisex
Curt
Meaning: Short
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Cosette
Meaning: Little girl
Origin: French
Gender: Girl
Gair/Gaira
Meaning: Short
Origin: Gaelic
Gender: Boy/Girl
Dagon
Meaning: Little fish
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Damaris
Meaning: A little woman
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Girl
Damita
Meaning: Little noble
Origin: Spanish
Gender: Girl
Devika
Meaning: Little goddess
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Dino
Meaning: Little sword
Origin: Italian
Gender: Boy
Dymphna
Meaning: Little poet
Origin: Gaelic
Gender: Girl
Ellette
Meaning: Little elf
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Etta
Meaning: Little one
Origin: German
Gender: Girl
Faolan
Meaning: Little wolf
Origin: Gaelic
Gender: Boy
Fauiki
Meaning: Little trees
Origin: Polynesian
Gender: Boy
Fehin
Meaning: Little raven
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Glinys
Meaning: Little valley
Origin: Welsh
Gender: Girl
Hacket
Meaning: Little hacker
Origin: German
Gender: Boy
Hakkatan
Meaning: Little
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Halette
Meaning: Little Hal
Origin: French
Gender: Girl
Jonina
Meaning: Little dove
Origin: Israeli
Gender: Girl
Keller
Meaning: Little champion
Origin: Gaelic
Gender: Boy
Krany
Meaning: Short
Origin: Czechoslovakian
Gender: Boy
Lorćan
Meaning: Little fierce one
Origin: Irish
Gender: Boy
Paul
Meaning: Small or humble
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Pollard
Meaning: Short haired
Origin: Teutonic
Gender: Boy
Saghir
Meaning: Short
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Boy
Talitha
Meaning: Little girl
Origin: Aramaic
Gender: Girl
Tatanka ptecila
Meaning: Short bull
Origin: Native American
Gender: Boy
Tihkoosue
Meaning: Short
Origin: Native American
Gender: Boy
Vaughn
Meaning: Little
Origin: Welsh
Gender: Boy