Why is "Dick" short for "Richard"?

Factual Questions
21

Shuggy for Hugh

22

I agree “Dick” is a weird nickname. And, the “evolution” from Rich to Dick, or even Margaret to Peggy, is about as logical as the statement “Yeah, and if a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his ass a’hopping!” I mean, what’s the point? You keep changing letters, and you can make any name evolve into another!

I think it all started with Richard Nixon :wink: Yes, I’m sure we are justified to blame Tricky Dicky!!! …even before Watergate. It’s comforting to know Americans elected the right-hand man of Joe McCarthy! I mean, what else did Americans expect to happen?

You gave “Richard” a bad name!

  • Jinx
23

Are you sure on this? I don’t know anyone who goes by “Jack”, but I was under the impression that it was pretty much always an “alternate” name for “John” – though I’m sure there are certainly some with “Jack” on their birth certificates, just as there are some with “Dick”, “Marty”, and “Bob” on their birth certificates.

24

I always thought the strangest was Sasha for Alexander. I know it comes from Russian, but have no idea how.