When I lived in England I had never heard the word pinkie for little finger. I discovered it in American books and on television doctor dramas.

Now I'm in Edinburgh everyone here seems to say pinkie and never "little finger". In the same way that people say when I was "wee" and never when I was “small”.Is "pinkie" used by everyone in the USA or just by some, if so, is it a regional variation or is it only used as a diminutive when speaking to children?