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Poppaea, Polina, Pompeia, Pomponia, Pompilia

There is no long version for Poppy.

I know lots of people called Poppy, after the flower. Granted, it is quite common in the UK and Australia but not the US. I would never assume someone I met called Poppy was actually a Penelope (they're mostly Penny or Nell or Penelope).

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If you wanted something more "serious", then maybe:

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Margaret Poppy 'Poppy'
Elizabeth Poppy 'Poppy'

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Rachel Mary Poplar 'Poppy'
Julia Florence Poppins 'Poppy'
Olivia Frances Popkins 'Poppy'
Etc etc
I know someone with the last name Hopkins who goes by Hoppy, so it does happen.

Apollonia

I've read a book with a character named Poppy in it and it felt fine, not too nicknamey. The only way it wouldn't work is if the story takes place in a era when nobody would ever be named Poppy. I would actually find a character called Persephone/Penelope "Poppy" much more nicknamey and distractingly twee. But that's just me.

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I second the idea of Poppaea, if you want a longer version. I always liked that name.

Parthenope
Apollonia
Prosperity
Pompeia
Portia
Ophelie
Opaline

Poppy as a flower name isn't a nickname. I do know of a little Penelope who at one point went by Poppy but now goes by Penny, but in general Poppy is just Poppy. Anything besides Penelope would be a stretch.

Calliope?

What about the ancient Roman Poppaea? The French form of the name, Poppée, would also be interesting as a character name over the more common Poppy.

This message was edited 2/24/2025, 2:00 AM

I think it stands well on its own, it does not sound like a nickname to me, but here are my suggestions:

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Apolline
Apphia
Epponina
Ippolita
Ophelia
Parthenope
Paulina
Philippa
Philippina
Phoebe
Pomona
Pompeia

I don’t see it as a nickname because it’s a flower, but you could use:

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Eponine
Pomponia
Zipporah