algy

Algy is a masculine given name or nickname, usually a shortened form of Algernon. The name Algernon is of English origin and has appeared in literature since the 19th century, with Algy functioning as an informal or affectionate form. In popular culture, the nickname is best known from Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, where the character Algernon Moncrieff is commonly referred to as Algy by his friends. This usage reflects a broader Victorian tendency to create diminutives by truncating longer names.

Outside this association, Algy is seen mainly as a historical or fictional nickname rather than a widely used legal given name. It may appear in period novels, stage plays, or discussions of classic literature as a retro or character-name choice. Real-world instances of people named Algy are typically those whose full name is Algernon or whose nickname follows from it. The related name Algernon remains in occasional use, though the form Algy itself is now relatively uncommon in contemporary naming.