ninny
UK[ˈnɪni]US[ˈnɪni]
n
A foolish or simple-minded person.
Etymology
The origin of 'ninny' is somewhat obscure but is believed to be a fanciful alteration of the proper name 'Innocent', used as an endearing term for a simpleton. It first appeared in English in the late 16th century. The evolution from a name denoting harmlessness to a term for a foolish person illustrates a common linguistic pattern where traits of innocence or naivety are semantically extended to imply a lack of wisdom or judgment. Its repetitive, childish sound likely contributed to its adoption and persistence as a mild term of disparagement.
Analysis
The word 'ninny' is a simplex word. It does not break down into meaningful, reusable morphemes within modern English spelling. It is considered a loanword or a fanciful formation.
Examples
Don't be such a ninny; there's nothing to fear in the dark.
He felt like a complete ninny for forgetting his own phone number.
The character in the play is portrayed as a loveable ninny who always gets into trouble.