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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Most unusual nicknames (based on a child's actual name) that you know of?

113 replies

Bagging · 14/06/2022 23:34

What are the most unusual nicknames, which are based on a child's actual name, that you're aware of?

And how do you get schools to use nicknames instead of official names? Surely they have to teach children to use their legal names?

OP posts:

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DysmalRadius · 16/06/2022 19:44

I knew a Marco for years before I found out his name was Paul...

totallyaddictedtocheese · 16/06/2022 19:33

I once saw someone on Twitter say they went to school with a lad called Wayne Bruce. His friends called him 'Man Bat' 😂

oneforsorrow1 · 16/06/2022 19:20

I just remember I went to college with a crumpet - not sure what his name was

PlanetNormal · 16/06/2022 18:34

One of the riders on Britain’s equestrian Eventing team is called Piggy March. Her actual name is Georgina.

Mommabear20 · 16/06/2022 18:29

@Dinoteeth I get that but then surely just call him Harry 🤷‍♀️ why bother calling him Henry in the first place 😂 or with the royals, I get Harry doesn't sound very regal, but surely there was another name they could have picked 🤣🤣

Peregrina · 16/06/2022 17:24

Peggy is a common nickname for Margaret.

Was a common nickname. The chances are if you meet a Peggy now, she will be 90 or over. One between 60 - 90 is more likely to be Maggie. For someone younger than that it's now unusual. The name got overworked and dropped right out of fashion.

HopingForMyRainbowBaby · 16/06/2022 17:11

VeryQuaintIrene · 15/06/2022 21:10

"Nan isn't even a name!"

It is. An old professor of mine was called it and it wasn't short for anything.

Yep 2 of my old school teachers were called Nan

Dinoteeth · 16/06/2022 16:24

Mommabear20 · 16/06/2022 15:57

I always thought Harry as a NN for Henry was a little weird as their the same length so not really shortening it at all and they sound completely different! I know this is the case with Prince Harry, and was also Henry VIII (amongst very close friends when he was younger) but it's still baffling to me 😂

Harry rolls of the tongue easier than Henry.

NotRainingToday · 16/06/2022 16:23

I know a Traf, which I always assumed was short for Trafford. But no, his name is Michael.

Traf is 'fart' backwards.

Mommabear20 · 16/06/2022 15:57

GreatCrash · 16/06/2022 15:52

I was at uni with a boy called Slug. Can't even remember his real name.

Pennyhill22 · 16/06/2022 15:49

I went to school with a girl called Pearl,her real name was Lisa. Everybody called her Pearl,teachers included.

golfwidownomore · 16/06/2022 15:42

This reminds me of an elderly uncle we always called Willymather. It wasn't until recently I realised it was William Arthur they were saying but because we are Welsh and speak so fast it came out as Uwncl Willymather 😀

ImSoMagical · 16/06/2022 15:37

Went to school with a Thomas Ian Todd - nickname Tit! 😅

The3rdWatermelon · 16/06/2022 15:14

I had a great aunt named Cynthia. Everyone always called her Mick. She had sisters with perfectly normal names who were also referred to by men’s names! I have no idea why.

MassiveSalad22 · 16/06/2022 14:57

Oh my god I am cracking up at Aunt Mould and Aunt Slag 🤣🤣🤣🤣 that is amazing

weebarra · 16/06/2022 14:44

I know a Melissa who is always called Bee. She has Greek heritage and Melissa is Greek for honey. I think it's lovely.

FusionChefGeoff · 16/06/2022 14:38

Oh yes and DH has an Uncle Ben who's name is Dave - the Ben is a shortening of his surname

FusionChefGeoff · 16/06/2022 14:37

A friend of mine I'd known for around 5 years as Charlie before he told me his name was Steve! Apparently his Dad used to say 'God you're a real Charlie' to mean a wally, I guess, and it stuck!

There is a famous ex rugby player called Budge Poutney who's real name is Anthony but his brother called him Budge instead of brother

TambourineOfRepentance · 16/06/2022 14:37

After having three male cousins called John, Paul and George born in close succession before me, I've been nicknamed Ringo since birth.

I've a lot of elderly female relatives called Mary who often made up completely different names (Janet, Nancy, Patricia that I can think of).

sundayweatherwatch · 16/06/2022 14:32

I know a Jonathan called Bubs

babyjellyfish · 16/06/2022 14:28

VerbenaGirl · 15/06/2022 23:05

Our secondary will totally use a nickname’ - just tell them it’s the preferred name. We have an Iris that is consistently known as Pirate. Not at school though, even she agrees that’s a step too far.

A girl at my school was known as Tiger by everyone, even teachers. Nothing to do with her real name at all.

VeryQuaintIrene · 16/06/2022 14:23

Surely he should have been called "Pad"!

Run4it2 · 15/06/2022 23:31

I know a man in his 60s called ted and one day I asked him whether it was short for Edward or Theodore. Oh, he said, my name is David! Apparently he wore a Duffle coat to school when he was 6 and people said it made him look like a teddy bear. He was then known as teddy bear which later became teddy and then just ted.

TrashyPanda · 15/06/2022 23:25

Titsflyingsouth · 15/06/2022 20:10

Also knew a couple of older ladies known as Nan (nickname for Ann.) Made no sense to me - Nan isn't even a name!

It’s been a mainstream name for over 150 years.

one of the characters in Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott, is Annie, known as Nan.

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