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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is Polly *only* short for Mary?

57 replies

ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 15:47

Or for other names too?

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ThursdayLast · 29/11/2014 18:31

CRAZY DAVE

Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 18:29
OP posts:
squoosh · 29/11/2014 18:28

You can use 'diminutive', it still means 'short for' though. Not that it really matters!

Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 18:28

Or 'diminutive' even.

(About names not as one)

OP posts:
Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 18:27

How about 'diminuative'?

OP posts:
ignominious · 29/11/2014 18:24

Please call her Crazy Dave.

squoosh · 29/11/2014 18:17

Yes the word 'nickname' can make people think of guys who are known to their friends as 'Crazy Dave' or 'Jimbo'.

I suppose the Victorians would have used the term 'pet name'.

MistAndAWeepingRain · 29/11/2014 18:14

Are you thinking of Kitty rocketeer?

ATailofTwoKitties · 29/11/2014 18:13

I've heard it used for Pearl as well.

Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 18:12

Catherine!?

OP posts:
Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 18:11

Thank you squoosh. I can't bring myself to say 'nickname' because a nickname (to me) is a v different thing.

OP posts:
rocketeer · 29/11/2014 17:57

I thought Polly was short for Catherine, can't remember why!

MeanwhileHighAboveTheField · 29/11/2014 17:56

Daisy is short for Margaret...

AuntieStella · 29/11/2014 17:53

One old and posh version was Leopoldina. (Mitford books).

WiggleGinger · 29/11/2014 17:51

PP. I thought Peggy was 'short for' Margaret.

Agreed Polly very much a name in its own right now

Willabywallaby · 29/11/2014 17:47

Ok I've just googled, it's derived from Molly, short for Mary.

Willabywallaby · 29/11/2014 17:46

It's Molly that's short for Mary.

Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 17:43

But i'll amend the question to '...long for Mary' if it helps Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
ArsenicSoup · 29/11/2014 17:42

How is Polly 'short' for Mary? There are more letters in it for one thing...

Don't ask me Grin

OP posts:
squoosh · 29/11/2014 17:37

People often use 'short for' when they mean 'informal' even if the nickname is longer eg Eve/Evie.

OP if you're thinking of using Polly I think people will just assume that's her official name. It's been many a decade since people called Mary but known as Polly were born. Most people wouldn't even know Polly was derived from Mary.

MistAndAWeepingRain · 29/11/2014 17:34

Polly is a variant of Molly - which in itself is a nickname of Mary. But it now modt commonly known as a name in its own right. My great aunt is called 'Poll' but her name is actually Mary. The 2 little girls I know who are called Polly are just called that. It isn't short for anything.

Bowchickawowow · 29/11/2014 17:33

I thought daisy was short for Margaret?

ThursdayLast · 29/11/2014 17:32
Grin

I thought Polly was a name in its own right.
What do you ask OP?

ignominious · 29/11/2014 17:32

I thought it was short for Margaret

blendedfamilygrinch · 29/11/2014 17:31

Xpost Grin

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