Spanish Nickname Generator

Apodos, short forms and terms of endearment

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Browse 500 real Spanish nicknames, most with the name they come from, such as Paco (Francisco), Nacho (Ignacio), Lola (Dolores) and Juanjo (Juan José), plus endearments like Mi cielo (my heaven) and Peque (small one, Spain).

About this generator

Spanish nicknames (apodos) are mostly short forms of given names, and the best known ones look nothing like their source: Francisco becomes Paco or Pancho, José becomes Pepe, Ignacio becomes Nacho and Dolores becomes Lola. Others are easier to trace. Many keep the first syllables (Rafa, Santi, Fede, Javi), many keep the end (Nando, Beto, Lupe, Tina), and a soft ch often stands in for other sounds, as in Chuy, Chente, Chelo and Chabela.

Double names get blended. María Teresa is Maite, María Isabel is Maribel, José María is Chema and Juan José is Juanjo. Diminutives add warmth: Juanito, Lupita and Carmencita everywhere, and forms in -ín and -illo mostly in Spain. About 350 of the 500 entries are short forms of this kind, each with its source name in parentheses.

The rest are words people use instead of a name: terms for partners such as Mi cielo, Cariño and Corazón, words for children and relatives such as Peque, Nene, Mijo and Abue, and friendly forms of address like Compa, Pana and Tronco. These carry a short gloss. A country or region appears where a form clearly belongs to one place, for example Chuy in Mexico, Curro in Spain, Tincho in the Southern Cone and Cheo in the Caribbean.

Tips for choosing a name

  • Use the part before the parentheses. The name or gloss inside only shows where the nickname comes from, and one short form can serve several names: Beto works for Alberto and Roberto, and Tavo for Gustavo and Octavio.
  • Match the nickname to the country. Chuy and Güicho sound Mexican, Curro and Suso sound Spanish, Tincho and Belu belong to the Southern Cone, and Cheo is Caribbean. An entry with no place is used widely.
  • Check what a nickname means elsewhere before you carry it across a border. Pancho is an everyday short form of Francisco, but in Argentina and Uruguay the word also means a hot dog, so expect a joke or two there.
  • Mind the ending on terms of endearment. Querido, Guapo and Nene are said to a man or boy and Querida, Guapa and Nena to a woman or girl, while Mi cielo, Mi vida and Mi amor stay the same for anyone.
  • In a story, let the family use the diminutive and the friends the short form. A boy can be Juanito at his grandmother's table and Juancho on the street, and the reader hears who is speaking.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pepe the nickname for José and Paco for Francisco?

They are old pet forms that drifted a long way from the full name, and several explanations circulate, none of them settled. What is clear is the pattern: Spanish pet forms like a repeated consonant and an open vowel at the end, which also gives Lola from Dolores, Memo from Guillermo and Quique from Enrique.

What are the most familiar Spanish nicknames?

For men, Paco, Pepe, Nacho, Manolo, Quique, Toño and Lalo are known almost everywhere Spanish is spoken. For women the classics include Lola, Charo, Pili, Merche, Maite, Lupe and Chelo. All of them are in the list with the full name they shorten.

What do Spanish speakers call their partner?

The everyday choices are Mi amor, Cariño, Mi vida, Mi cielo and Corazón, and all of them work for a man or a woman. Spain also has Cari and Churri, and Media naranja, literally half an orange, means your other half. Partner terms are a small part of this list, which is mainly short forms of names.

Are these nicknames used in every Spanish-speaking country?

No. Short forms such as Paco, Pepe and Lola travel everywhere, but many others are regional, and the list marks the clear cases. It was screened for offensive terms, and nicknames about a person's weight or skin were left out on purpose. If a form matters to you, ask someone from that country.

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All 500 names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 23 names

  • Abue (grandma or grandpa)
  • Abuelita (grandma)
  • Abuelito (grandpa)
  • Adelita (Adela)
  • Adri (Adrián or Adriana)
  • Agus (Agustín or Agustina)
  • Ale (Alejandro or Alejandra)
  • Álex (Alejandro)
  • Ali (Alicia)
  • Alma mía (my soul)
  • Amiguito (pal)
  • Amor de mi vida (love of my life)
  • Amorcito (dear love)
  • Amparito (Amparo)
  • Anabel (Ana Isabel)
  • Analú (Ana Lucía)
  • Andy (Andrés)
  • Angelita (Ángela)
  • Angelito (Ángel)
  • Ani (Ana)
  • Asere (buddy, Cuba)
  • Asun (Asunción)
  • Azu (Azucena)

B: 14 names

  • Balta (Baltasar)
  • Bea (Beatriz)
  • Bebé (baby)
  • Bego (Begoña)
  • Belu (Belén, Southern Cone)
  • Benja (Benjamín)
  • Berna (Bernardo)
  • Berni (Bernardo)
  • Berto (Alberto)
  • Betito (Alberto)
  • Beto (Alberto or Roberto)
  • Bombón (chocolate, sweetie)
  • Bonita (pretty)
  • Botija (kid, Uruguay)

C: 86 names

  • Cachita (Caridad, Caribbean)
  • Cami (Camilo or Camila)
  • Campeón (champ)
  • Campeona (champ)
  • Cande (Candelaria)
  • Capi (captain)
  • Capo (boss, Southern Cone)
  • Caramelo (candy)
  • Cari (short for cariño)
  • Cariño (darling)
  • Carlitos (Carlos)
  • Carmelita (Carmen)
  • Carmencita (Carmen)
  • Carmina (Carmen)
  • Carnal (brother, close friend, Mexico)
  • Caro (Carolina)
  • Cata (Catalina)
  • Causa (buddy, Peru)
  • Ceci (Cecilia)
  • Cefe (Ceferino)
  • Chabela (Isabel)
  • Chago (Santiago)
  • Chalo (Gonzalo)
  • Chamaco (kid, Mexico)
  • Chamo (kid, Venezuela)
  • Chano (Feliciano)
  • Chari (Rosario, Spain)
  • Charito (Rosario)

C, continued

  • Charly (Carlos)
  • Charo (Rosario)
  • Chava (Salvador, Mexico)
  • Chaval (lad, Spain)
  • Chavito (kiddo, Mexico)
  • Chayo (Rosario, Mexico)
  • Checo (Sergio, Mexico)
  • Chela (Graciela)
  • Chelo (Consuelo)
  • Chema (José María)
  • Chencho (Inocencio)
  • Chendo (Rosendo)
  • Chente (Vicente)
  • Cheo (José, Caribbean)
  • Chepa (Josefa)
  • Chepe (José)
  • Chimo (Joaquín, Spain)
  • Chinto (Jacinto)
  • Chío (Rocío)
  • Chiqui (small one)
  • Chiquillo (kid)
  • Chiquitín (tiny one)
  • Chiquitina (tiny one)
  • Chofi (Sofía)
  • Chole (Soledad)
  • Chon (Asunción)
  • Chucho (Jesús)
  • Chula (pretty one, Mexico)
  • Churri (sweetie, Spain)

C, continued

  • Chus (Jesús, Spain)
  • Chuy (Jesús, Mexico)
  • Chuyito (Jesús, Mexico)
  • Cielo (heaven)
  • Cisco (Francisco)
  • Clarita (Clara)
  • Clau (Claudia)
  • Cloti (Clotilde)
  • Coco (Socorro, Mexico)
  • Colás (Nicolás)
  • Comadre (close friend)
  • Compa (buddy, Mexico)
  • Compadre (close friend)
  • Conchi (Concepción)
  • Conchita (Concepción)
  • Coni (Constanza, Southern Cone)
  • Coque (Jorge)
  • Corazón (heart)
  • Corazoncito (dear heart)
  • Cosita (sweet thing)
  • Coté (María José, Southern Cone)
  • Crack (ace, Spain)
  • Cris (Cristina)
  • Cuate (buddy, Mexico)
  • Cuco (Refugio, Mexico)
  • Cuqui (cutie, Spain)
  • Curra (Francisca)
  • Currito (Francisco, Spain)
  • Curro (Francisco, Spain)

D: 11 names

  • Dani (Daniel or Daniela)
  • Delfi (Delfina, Southern Cone)
  • Diablillo (imp)
  • Dieguito (Diego)
  • Doc (doctor)
  • Dolo (Dolores, Southern Cone)
  • Dori (Adoración)
  • Dorita (Dora)
  • Dormilón (sleepyhead)
  • Dormilona (sleepyhead)
  • Dulzura (sweetness)

E: 11 names

  • Edu (Eduardo)
  • Eli (Elisa)
  • Emi (Emilio or Emilia)
  • Encarna (Encarnación)
  • Encarnita (Encarnación)
  • Esme (Esmeralda)
  • Espe (Esperanza)
  • Estrellita (twinkle star)
  • Euge (Eugenia, Southern Cone)
  • Evita (Eva)
  • Eze (Ezequiel, Southern Cone)

F: 14 names

  • Fabi (Fabián or Fabiola)
  • Facu (Facundo, Southern Cone)
  • Fani (Estefanía)
  • Fede (Federico)
  • Feli (Felisa)
  • Fer (Fernando or Fernanda)
  • Fina (Josefina)
  • Fito (Adolfo)
  • Flo (Florencia, Southern Cone)
  • Florecita (blossom)
  • Foncho (Alfonso)
  • Fonsi (Alfonso)
  • Fran (Francisco)
  • Francis (Francisco)

G: 17 names

  • Gabi (Gabriel or Gabriela)
  • Gabo (Gabriel)
  • Gaby (Gabriela)
  • Genio (genius)
  • Gera (Gerardo, Mexico)
  • Glori (Gloria)
  • Gonza (Gonzalo)
  • Goyo (Gregorio)
  • Guada (Guadalupe)
  • Guapa (pretty)
  • Guapetón (big handsome one)
  • Guapo (handsome)
  • Güicho (Luis, Mexico)
  • Guille (Guillermo)
  • Gurí (kid, Uruguay)
  • Gurisa (girl, Uruguay)
  • Gus (Gustavo)

H: 5 names

  • Hermana (sister)
  • Hermanita (baby sister)
  • Hermanito (baby brother)
  • Hermano (brother)
  • Hermosa (beautiful)

I: 3 names

  • Inma (Inmaculada)
  • Isa (Isabel)
  • Isma (Ismael)

J: 31 names

  • Jaimito (Jaime)
  • Jano (Alejandro)
  • Javi (Javier or Javiera)
  • Jefecita (mom, Mexico)
  • Jero (Jerónimo)
  • Jime (Jimena)
  • Joaco (Joaquín)
  • Jorgito (Jorge)
  • Josean (José Antonio)
  • Joselito (José)
  • Joselu (José Luis)
  • Josema (José María)
  • Josemi (José Miguel)
  • Juampi (Juan Pablo, Southern Cone)
  • Juanan (Juan Antonio)
  • Juanca (Juan Carlos)
  • Juancar (Juan Carlos)
  • Juancho (Juan)
  • Juande (Juan de Dios)
  • Juanfran (Juan Francisco)
  • Juanita (Juana)
  • Juanito (Juan)
  • Juanjo (Juan José)
  • Juanlu (Juan Luis)
  • Juanma (Juan Manuel)
  • Juanmi (Juan Miguel)
  • Juanpa (Juan Pablo)
  • Juanra (Juan Ramón)
  • Juli (Julián or Julia)
  • Julita (Julia)
  • Julito (Julio)

K: 2 names

  • Kika (Francisca)
  • Kiko (Francisco)

L: 31 names

  • Lali (Eulalia)
  • Lalito (Eduardo)
  • Lalo (Eduardo)
  • Lando (Orlando)
  • Lau (Laura)
  • Lean (Leandro, Southern Cone)
  • Lencho (Lorenzo)
  • Leo (Leonardo)
  • Lety (Leticia)
  • Licha (Alicia, Mexico)
  • Lili (Liliana)
  • Lindura (cutie)
  • Lita (grandma)
  • Lito (grandpa)
  • Lola (Dolores)
  • Lolo (Manuel)
  • Lore (Lorena)
  • Loren (Lorenzo)
  • Lucha (Luz María)
  • Lucho (Luis)
  • Luci (Lucía)
  • Lucre (Lucrecia)
  • Luisita (Luisa)
  • Luisito (Luis)
  • Luisma (Luis María)
  • Luismi (Luis Miguel)
  • Luli (Luciana, Southern Cone)
  • Lulú (Lourdes)
  • Lupe (Guadalupe)
  • Lupita (Guadalupe)
  • Luzma (Luz María)

M: 82 names

  • Maca (Macarena)
  • Macu (Inmaculada)
  • Maestro (master)
  • Mafe (María Fernanda)
  • Magda (Magdalena)
  • Maica (María del Carmen, Spain)
  • Maite (María Teresa)
  • Majo (María José)
  • Malena (Magdalena)
  • Mamen (María del Carmen, Spain)
  • Mami (mommy)
  • Mamita (mommy)
  • Mando (Armando)
  • Manita (sis, Mexico)
  • Mano (bro)
  • Manoli (Manuela)
  • Manolín (Manuel)
  • Manolita (Manuela)
  • Manolito (Manuel)
  • Manolo (Manuel)
  • Manu (Manuel)
  • Mapi (María del Pilar, Spain)
  • Máquina (machine, Spain)
  • Marce (Marcelo or Marcela)
  • Marga (Margarita)
  • Mari (María)
  • Marián (María de los Ángeles)

M, continued

  • Maribel (María Isabel)
  • Maricarmen (María del Carmen)
  • Marichu (María Jesús, Spain)
  • Mariló (María Dolores, Spain)
  • Marilú (María Luisa)
  • Marisa (María Luisa)
  • Marisol (María de la Soledad)
  • Marito (Mario)
  • Mariví (María Victoria)
  • Martita (Marta)
  • Maru (María Eugenia)
  • Maruja (María)
  • Mati (Matías or Matilde)
  • Mau (Mauricio)
  • Mauri (Mauricio)
  • Maxi (Maximiliano)
  • Meche (Mercedes)
  • Mechi (Mercedes, Southern Cone)
  • Media naranja (other half)
  • Meli (Melisa or Melina)
  • Memo (Guillermo)
  • Menchu (Carmen)
  • Merceditas (Mercedes)
  • Merche (Mercedes)
  • Mi amor (my love)
  • Mi ángel (my angel)
  • Mi cielo (my heaven)

M, continued

  • Mi corazón (my heart)
  • Mi niña (my girl)
  • Mi niño (my boy)
  • Mi otra mitad (my other half)
  • Mi reina (my queen)
  • Mi rey (my king)
  • Mi sol (my sun)
  • Mi vida (my life)
  • Mica (Micaela)
  • Migue (Miguel)
  • Miguelito (Miguel)
  • Mija (my daughter, Mexico)
  • Mijita (dear daughter)
  • Mijito (sonny)
  • Mijo (my son, Mexico)
  • Miki (Miguel)
  • Mila (Milagros)
  • Milagritos (Milagros)
  • Mili (Milagros)
  • Mingo (Domingo)
  • Moi (Moisés)
  • Monchi (Ramón)
  • Moncho (Ramón)
  • Moni (Mónica)
  • Monse (Montserrat)
  • Montse (Montserrat)
  • Mundo (Edmundo)
  • Muñeca (doll)

N: 19 names

  • Nacha (Ignacia)
  • Nachito (Ignacio)
  • Nacho (Ignacio)
  • Nahue (Nahuel, Southern Cone)
  • Nana (grandma or nanny)
  • Nanda (Fernanda)
  • Nando (Fernando)
  • Nati (Natalia or Natividad)
  • Nena (baby girl)
  • Nene (baby boy)
  • Neto (Ernesto)
  • Nico (Nicolás)
  • Niña de mis ojos (apple of my eye)
  • Nines (Ángeles, Spain)
  • Nino (Saturnino)
  • Noe (Noelia)
  • Nona (grandma, Southern Cone)
  • Nono (grandpa, Southern Cone)
  • Nuri (Nuria)

O: 2 names

  • Oli (Olivia)
  • Osito (teddy bear)

P: 53 names

  • Pablito (Pablo)
  • Paca (Francisca)
  • Pacho (Francisco, Colombia)
  • Paco (Francisco)
  • Paisano (fellow countryman)
  • Pajarito (birdie)
  • Palomita (little dove)
  • Pame (Pamela)
  • Pana (buddy, Caribbean)
  • Pancha (Francisca)
  • Panchito (Francisco)
  • Pancho (Francisco)
  • Pao (Paola)
  • Papi (daddy)
  • Papito (daddy)
  • Paqui (Francisca)
  • Paquita (Francisca)
  • Paquito (Francisco)
  • Parce (buddy, Colombia)
  • Parcero (buddy, Colombia)
  • Pastelito (cupcake)
  • Pati (Patricia)
  • Patri (Patricia)
  • Pau (Paula)
  • Pauli (Paulina)
  • Pedacito de cielo (little piece of heaven)

P, continued

  • Pedrito (Pedro)
  • Pepa (Josefa)
  • Pepe (José)
  • Pepelu (José Luis)
  • Pepi (Josefa)
  • Pepillo (José, Spain)
  • Pepín (José)
  • Pepita (Josefa)
  • Pepito (José)
  • Peque (small one, Spain)
  • Pequeñín (tiny one)
  • Perucho (Pedro)
  • Pibe (kid, Southern Cone)
  • Pichoncito (young dove)
  • Pilarín (Pilar)
  • Pili (Pilar)
  • Piluca (Pilar)
  • Pimpollo (rosebud)
  • Pipe (Felipe)
  • Polo (Leopoldo)
  • Poncho (Alfonso)
  • Preciosa (precious)
  • Prima (cousin)
  • Primo (cousin)
  • Princesita (young princess)
  • Profe (teacher)
  • Puri (Purificación)

Q: 5 names

  • Querida (dear)
  • Querido (dear)
  • Queta (Enriqueta)
  • Quino (Joaquín)
  • Quique (Enrique)

R: 23 names

  • Rafa (Rafael)
  • Rafi (Rafael or Rafaela)
  • Rami (Ramiro)
  • Ramoncín (Ramón, Spain)
  • Ramoncito (Ramón)
  • Rebe (Rebeca)
  • Reme (Remedios)
  • Renacuajo (tadpole, a small child)
  • Richi (Ricardo)
  • Ricitos (curls)
  • Ricky (Ricardo)
  • Ricura (cutie)
  • Rigo (Rigoberto)
  • Risitas (giggles)
  • Ro (Rocío)
  • Rober (Roberto)
  • Rodo (Rodolfo)
  • Rodri (Rodrigo)
  • Rolo (Rolando)
  • Romi (Romina)
  • Rosarito (Rosario)
  • Rosi (Rosa)
  • Rosita (Rosa)

S: 17 names

  • Sagra (Sagrario)
  • Salo (Salomón)
  • Salva (Salvador)
  • Samu (Samuel)
  • Santi (Santiago)
  • Sarita (Sara)
  • Seba (Sebastián)
  • Sebas (Sebastián)
  • Seño (miss, teacher)
  • Socio (partner)
  • Soco (Socorro, Mexico)
  • Sofi (Sofía)
  • Sole (Soledad)
  • Solecito (dear sun)
  • Susanita (Susana)
  • Susi (Susana)
  • Suso (Jesús, Spain)

T: 31 names

  • Tata (grandpa or dad)
  • Tati (Tatiana)
  • Tavito (Gustavo)
  • Tavo (Gustavo or Octavio)
  • Tencha (Hortensia, Mexico)
  • Teo (Teodoro)
  • Tere (Teresa)
  • Teresita (Teresa)
  • Terremoto (earthquake, a lively child)
  • Terrón de azúcar (sugar lump)
  • Tesorito (dear treasure)
  • Tesoro (treasure)
  • Teté (Teresa)
  • Tiago (Santiago)
  • Tina (Cristina)
  • Tincho (Martín, Southern Cone)
  • Tino (Constantino)
  • Tío (mate, Spain)
  • Tita (auntie)
  • Titi (auntie, Caribbean)
  • Tocayo (namesake)
  • Tomi (Tomás)
  • Toña (Antonia)
  • Toni (Antonio)
  • Toñín (Antonio)
  • Toñito (Antonio)
  • Toño (Antonio)
  • Tortolito (lovebird)
  • Trasto (scamp, Spain)
  • Trini (Trinidad)
  • Tronco (mate, Spain)

V: 12 names

  • Vale (Valeria)
  • Valen (Valentín or Valentina)
  • Vane (Vanesa)
  • Vero (Verónica)
  • Vicky (Victoria)
  • Vida mía (my life)
  • Viejita (dear old mom)
  • Viejito (dear old dad)
  • Viejo (old man, said of a dad or husband)
  • Virgi (Virginia)
  • Vitín (Víctor, Caribbean)
  • Vivi (Viviana)

W: 2 names

  • Wences (Wenceslao)
  • Willy (Guillermo)

X: 1 name

  • Xime (Ximena)

Y: 5 names

  • Yaya (grandma, Spain)
  • Yayo (grandpa, Spain)
  • Yesi (Yesenia)
  • Yola (Yolanda)
  • Yoli (Yolanda)