Name: Hattie
Meaning: “estate ruler”
Origin: English
Current Popularity: #495
Hattie was once a top-100 baby name, back in the 1800s and into the early 1900s. It fell off the popularity charts in 1968 but returned 9 years ago, climbing very quickly up the charts before leveling off.
Nickname Potential: Traditionally, Hattie has been used as a nickname for Harriet or Henrietta, though Hadleys are often called Haddie, too. Currently, as “nickname names” soar in popularity, Hattie as a standalone name is much more popular than its longer forms.
Associations: There is Oscar-winning actress Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African American actor or actress to ever win an Academy Award for her role in Gone with the Wind, and British actress Hattie Morahan, who starred in a 2008 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and then played Agathe/the Enchantress in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. And then there’s the place-name association of Hattiesburg, Mississippi (The city was actually named after the founder’s wife, Hattie). But the name’s climb up the charts was most likely due to Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott choosing it for their daughter, Hattie Margaret, who was born in 2011. Enough time has passed since then that the name no longer feels like a “celebrity baby name” and instead just feels on trend.
Similar Names: Ada, Beatrix, Clem, Edie, Ettie, Evie, Flora, Kit, Kitty, Letty, Lola, Lottie, Maisie, Millie, Nellie, Willa, Winnie
Why We Love It: We’re utterly charmed by “nickname names” with vintage appeal and this one’s sound just makes us happy.
Who Might Like It: Hattie has both a Southern vibe and an English sensibility, and could be a winner for parents with taste in either style. Hattie could also be used as an honor name for a family member named Harriet, or even Henry, which has the same origin and meaning. Vintage lovers will appreciate how the name feels old and modern at the same time.