# Standard nicknames that have no apparent resemblance to the full name **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 5, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699 "2011-10-05T16:55:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/1 "2011-10-05T16:55:03Z")
For example, Dick is short for Richard but I never quite got why. What other common nicknames can you think of that have little or no resemblance to their longer counterpart? ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/2 "2011-10-05T16:57:55Z")
Peggy for Margaret is the worst offender. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/3 "2011-10-05T16:59:42Z")
Sacha / Alexander ETA: Or Sasha, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/4 "2011-10-05T17:01:55Z")
Sally for Sarah Molly for Mary/Margaret ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/5 "2011-10-05T17:02:16Z")
Babs = Barbara Buffy = Elizabeth ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/6 "2011-10-05T17:02:31Z")
Jack for John. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/7 "2011-10-05T17:04:12Z")
Even moreso, Peggy for Margaret. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/8 "2011-10-05T17:05:16Z")
Bob for Robert. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/9 "2011-10-05T17:05:53Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Jack for John. This one above all though, I’ve never understood. It’s not even shorter so WTF? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/10 "2011-10-05T17:05:55Z")
“Jack” as a diminutive for “John” has always struck me as a bit odd. They only have one letter in common, and “Jack” isn’t any shorter. On preview: Beaten to the punch by **DCnDC** , but the point stands. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/11 "2011-10-05T17:06:02Z")
> [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](#): > > Peggy for Margaret is the worst offender. Daisy for Margaret is worse, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/12 "2011-10-05T17:07:57Z")
Chuck for Charles (although they both start with Ch) [The Straight Dope on Peg.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/764/why-is-peggy-the-nickname-for-margaret) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/13 "2011-10-05T17:08:10Z")
> [@ENugent](#): > > Daisy for Margaret is worse, in my opinion. At that point, I think it just suggests that no one wants to be called (or say) “Margaret” more than necessary. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/14 "2011-10-05T17:10:02Z")
Never mind, beaten to it by **Tripolar**. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/15 "2011-10-05T17:11:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > [The Straight Dope on Peg.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/764/why-is-peggy-the-nickname-for-margaret) Nice. If I ever have a daughter, or alternatively, discover some manner of swamp monster, she’s totally getting named “Mog.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/16 "2011-10-05T17:13:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Even moreso, Peggy for Margaret. Somehow I missed post 2. Sorry, **what do I type here**. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/17 "2011-10-05T17:14:40Z")
The Master has also discussed [Dick, Bob, and Bill](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2030/what-came-first-dick-or-dick). The short version is that rhyming nicknames were once popular, and a few of them stuck. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/18 "2011-10-05T17:16:05Z")
Sadie is a nic for Sarah. I had an Aunt Sadie ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/19 "2011-10-05T17:36:22Z")
I don’t get Peggy from Margaret. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699/20 "2011-10-05T17:37:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Sadie is a nic for Sarah. > > I had an Aunt Sadie Now it’s also the diminutive for Mercedes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-nicknames-that-have-no-apparent-resemblance-to-the-full-name/598699.md?page=2)