In many Romance languages, nicknames come from baby talk- or, more accurately, from babies’ first attempts to say their own names.
A Mexican toddler named Guilermo (William) will often pronounce his name “Memo.” So, not surprisingly, “Memo” is the Mexican equivalent of “Billy.”
The Italian version of Joseph/Jose is “Giuseppe.” An Italian toddler with that name often pronounces it “Pepe,” which has become one of several popular Italian equivalents of “Joey.”
Harry for Henry.
Isn’t Harry for Harold?
There is a British one of Jezzer (?). I have no idea what that is even short for.
For Harold and Harrison it makes sense.
It is also for Henry.
So is Hal, for that matter.
That one makes sense when you consider “Xander” (pron “Zander”) as an Alexander short form. Xander to Sandy isn’t a big jump.
Alexander - Stash, Sasha
James - Jacob, Diego
I was going to say Ted for Edward and Sally for Sarah. I’ve never understood either of them.
If someone’s name was Ted, I’d assume it was short for Theodore. That makes more sense to me.
The Sally for Sarah is just like Jack for John. Same number of letters and syllables. Both of them get a big ole’ WTF? from me.
Penelope gave us Penny and Nellie.
Hal for Harold is a little strange, but I know 3 Harolds who are known as Butch.
TriPolar said, “Some of those guys had Roman numerals for last names, making it easier to tell them apart.”
Some guys with Roman numerals, especially in The South, are called Sticks, for “III”.
Many odd nicknames come from families that name the firstborn boy the same as his dad and granddad.
I have a nephew named Corey who, in his 40s, is beginning to be known as Corky.
I’ve known two guys who were “the third” and they went by Trey.
In the South, for a long time, William Horace Jones II would be known as “Dub,” while William Horace Jones III would be known as either “Trip” or “Trey.”
After a while, though, I think “Trey” took on a life of its own, and a fair number of kids now have “Trey” on their birth certificates.
Jez/Jezzer is short for Jeremy.
It’s not uncommon to take the first two letters of the name and add a zed to make the nickname. So, Jez = Jeremy, Daz = Darren, &c.
And in my family, at least, Nellie is short for Eleanor.
I’m assuming this is pure coincidence, but maybe there’s a reason behind all of this.
One of my oldest friends (we’ve known each other since Kindergarten 56 years ago) is named Harold, known all his life to parents, friends, classmates, coworkers, girlfriends, and wife as “Hal.”
But… his sister (two years younger) always called him “Butchie”, and his brother (four years younger) always called him “Butch.” When we were kids I sometimes asked them why, and they always shrugged and said they didn’t know. We were all in our fifties before I noticed them addressing him as Hal."
What goes on here?
I have two uncle Franks who both go by Butch.
I know a Richard and an Armand who go by Butch. I can see Armand wanting to go by a different name, but don’t see the connection to Richard.
Because when you say your name, people think you’re coughing?
I can’t. Armand is a frickin’ awesome name,.