Perhaps part of the problem is how most of our current popular names have only one "go-to" nickname (maybe two)? If you look at historically-common names, they can have several, even dozens! Whether the nickname-creativity was spurred by the over-abundances of Marys, Margarets, Richards, & Johns, or just a by-product of flexible archaic English, I'm not sure, but either way, we're missing some opportunity for fun. ;)
While today's nicknames tend to be made in one way (shortening it, and maybe adding 'ee' or 'ah'), in older times, nicknames could be made in several ways:
- Shortening to main syllable, just like today
- Rhyming: Ed --> Ted
- Adding N to vowel-names (a result of affectionately saying 'Mine ____'): Ann --> Nan
- Contraction: Florence --> Floss
- Adding 'ee' (for either gender), 'see', -in, or -kin: Adam --> Addy, Beth--> Betsy, John --> Jonkin
- Slight vowel-shift: Simon --> Sim
- Using a regional pronunciation as a nickname: Mary --> Molly
Often these changes combined & built upon each other, for instance: Margaret --> Mag --> Meg --> Peg; Mary --> Molly --> Polly; John --> Jan --> Jankin --> Jack
Now imagine the fun if we applied some of these methods to today's popular names. Hmmm.....
- Sophia --> Sophie --> Sosie
- Isabella --> Nissie; Isabella --> Ibbie --> Tibbie
- Olivia --> Nol, Nollie; Olivia --> Olia
- Emma --> Emsie
- Abigail --> Allie; Abigail --> Aggie
- Madison --> Missy
- Aiden --> Aikin; Aiden --> Nay
- Jacob --> Jobe; Jacob --> Cobin
- Mason --> Mase --> Tase; Mason --> Maykin
- Michael --> Mel; Michael --> Mykin; Michael --> Kel --> Kellin
- William --> Wilkin --> Wilk; William --> Wim
- Ethan --> Ean --> Dean
- Noah --> Noey; Noah --> Koah; Noah --> Joah --> Joe
Yes, I purposely left out the names that I couldn't come up with non-silly nicknames for (of course, I can see many of these being considered silly). But imagine the possibilities! Who says that all Isabellas must go by Izzy or Bella? Having "such a common name" wouldn't really matter if you come up with your own new nickname for her. :)
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