# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785 "2024-07-25T15:06:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 233
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4641 "2026-05-18T14:24:17Z")
Isn’t Peggy a common nickname for Margaret? The real mystery is whether Al is an Albert or an Alan. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4642 "2026-05-18T14:50:50Z")
Yes. Peggy is pretty much always short for Margaret. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4643 "2026-05-18T15:01:06Z")
I don’t know if this is in the spirit of this thread or not, but yesterday I learned what a small world indeed we live in. SissieHomie (J) is my half sister: same dad, different moms. Yesterday her husband and son and I were leaving breakfast and we ran into B, the stepson of my BFF, whom I’ve known since he was like 9 (he’s like 25 now). B was there with his girlfriend, M, and her parents. Her mom is S. S and J are first cousins, which means that S and M (heh) are first cousins once removed! Which means that when B marries M, he’ll be a member of my family by marriage (albeit obliquely). ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4644 "2026-05-18T15:09:15Z")
According to my searches, Margaret was shortened to Meg, which was lengthened to Meggy, which then became Peggy. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4645 "2026-05-18T15:14:08Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The real mystery is whether Al is an Albert or an Alan. > **Alternative Name:** In one episode, a driver’s license indicated his name was “Albert”. Some claim “Alphonse”, but “Alphonse” is cultural Italian, and “Bundy” isn’t an Italian name in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4646 "2026-05-18T15:14:27Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > which then became Peggy. …which is sometimes shortened to Peg. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4647 "2026-05-18T15:15:44Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Some claim “Alphonse”, but “Alphonse” is cultural Italian, and “Bundy” isn’t an Italian name in my opinion. Nah, Alphonse rather is French, the common Italian form of the name is Alfonso. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4648 "2026-05-18T15:16:42Z")
Perhaps great-grandpa Bundy was “Alfonso Bondi” back in the old country? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4649 "2026-05-18T15:18:41Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Nah, Alphonse rather is French, the common Italian form of the name is Alfonso. You can blame Al (Alphonse) Capone for my mistake, though “Bundy” doesn’t sound French, either. LOL ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4650 "2026-05-18T15:21:09Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > You can blame Al (Alphonse) Capone for my mistake, though “Bundy” doesn’t sound French, either. LOL That’s interesting, I didn’t know that this Al stands for Alphonse and not Alfonso. Maybe his parents wanted get fancy with a French name for their son. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4651 "2026-05-18T15:25:16Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > “Bundy” doesn’t sound French, either Maybe not, but the French Wikipage tells you what his real name is, and it is more complicated than you assume. If you enter # Alphonse Hercules “Al” Bundy into the French Wikipedia you get redirected to **[Al Bundy](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bundy)**. Would be funny if they had made his name up just for the French version of the show. The English Wikipedia does not redirect to Al Bundy from Alphonse Hercules “Al” Bundy. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4652 "2026-05-18T15:27:33Z")
The Wikipedia entry for the character says that his first name is Alphonse. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4653 "2026-05-18T15:29:43Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > into the French Wikipedia ou get redirected to **[Al Bundy](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bundy)**. Would be funny if they had made his name up just for the French version of the show. Wait, it only gets more mysterious: the French wiki says: > [@](#): > > Alex Bundy est le personnage principal de la série télévisée [Mariés, deux enfants](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari%C3%A9s,_deux_enfants). which means > [@](#): > > Alex Bundy is the main character of the TV series “Married …With Children”. So where the heck does Alex come from? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4654 "2026-05-18T16:05:20Z")
Now we have a new question: which name is “Al” most frequently used as the diminutive for? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4655 "2026-05-18T16:44:03Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Wait, it only gets more mysterious Well spotted. So to the Spanish Wkipedia I go: > **[Al Bundy](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bundy)** > > Alphonse "Al" Bundy es un personaje ficticio y el protagonista principal de la serie de televisión estadounidense Married ... with Children, interpretado por el actor Ed O'Neill. Es un padre misántropo, amante de la cerveza, endeudado y con un salario muy bajo. Aunque es tacaño, fracasado, grosero, infeliz e intrigante, no obstante defiende a su familia, mostrando ingenio, sacrificio y capacidad de recuperación en tiempos de crisis. Él y su esposa, Peggy Bundy, fueron ubicados en la posición N En... Alphonse again. Someone messed up in the French Wikipedia and you were the first to notice. Sounds improbable, but it is the easiest explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4656 "2026-05-18T17:18:27Z")
Dr. Johnny Fever’s real name is John Caravella. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4657 "2026-05-18T19:33:04Z")
By far the most common possibility in the US is Alexander. Other reasonably common possibilities are Alvin, Albert and Alan/Allan/Allen. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4658 "2026-05-18T19:39:36Z")
It’s possible, but it would depend not only on how common the name Alexander is but also on whether it’s more likely or less likely to abbreviated to Al than some other contenders. For example, although Albert is not as common a name, istm that someone named Albert is far more likely to be addressed by the diminutive Al. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4659 "2026-05-18T19:45:04Z")
There’s no way to know but Alexander is very often Alex and the others are pretty much only going to be Al so you could be on to something. I’ve known Als of all of those flavors and I am one myself. I don’t go by Al but I did in the past. When I did, the most common guess was Albert. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4660 "2026-05-18T19:52:49Z")
Presumably “Aloysius” is pretty far down on the guess list. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=232) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=234)