Call it a moniker, a sobriquet, a diminutive or whatever, in everyday use, people tend to shorten the names of friends or associates, whether for informality’s sake or just for the heck of it.
As a word lover, I have always been intrigued by the fact that the same name, in its informal variation, has so many possibilities.. Why oh why do some people prefer one diminutive over another? And some resist any attempt to avoid using their full name? Following are 25 names with at least two frequently-used variations
Albert Al, Bert
Alexander Alex, Andy
Alfred Al, Alfie
Barbara Barb, Barby
Beatrice Bea, Bede, Trish
Bernard Bernie, Barney
Charles Charlie, Chuck
Deborah Deb, ,Debby
Edward Ed, Eddy, Ted, Teddy
Elizabeth Liz, Lizzy, Beth, Betty
Estelle Essie, Stella
Francisca Fran, Franny
Gertrude Gert, Gerty, Trudy
Herbert Herb, Herby
Leticia Letty, Trish,Tricia
Lillian Lil, Lilly
Margaret Meg, Margie
Morton Mort, Morty
Patricia Pat, Patty, Trish
Richard Dick, Rich, Richey, Rick
Robert Bob, Bobby, Rob, Bert
Roberta Bert, Bertie, Robby
Samuel Sam, Sammy
Sheldon Shell. Shelly
Thomas Tom. Tommy
If your name is Richard, why do you prefer Dick over Rich ––or Rick or Richey –– or vice versa? Are you offended if someone shortens your name or uses a form you just don’t like?
Only on occasion do I get an answer. My friend Deborah objects vigorously if you call her Debby. She thinks of herself as a serious, accomplished individual with a serious name. She thinks of Debbie as a brainless character, perhaps the subject of a movie entitled “Debbie Does Dishes.” My niece Judith hates being called Judy. That’s what her parents called her when she was a child. She is a grown-up now ––Judith, not Judy.
Sometimes, people shorten your family name rather than your first name, My son Jonathan Rubinstein, a prominent businessman and engineer, prefers to be called Jon but never objects when many people call him Ruby Here’s a funny observation. Some nicknames or shortened forms skip a generation. My father was called Ruby, but nobody used that name for me. However, Ruby was resurrected for one of my sons. Not for the other.
Go figure.
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