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

I’ve got a friend who is Katherine Ann, and she’s only ever been known as Julia.

My aunt was called Snowie when she was a child, due to her very blonde hair. Her real name was Aydel but she’d never been called that.

Another aunt was really Margaret but everyone called her Sue.

Some of my family are Hungarian and they have anglicised their names, so known as Catherine and Teresa. Boglarka and Ildiko couldn’t easily anglicise theirs!

Rachel Miriam didn’t know she had a middle name until she did her GCSEs (and has never been called Rachel either, but that’s another story).

My name on my passport is not the same as on my birth certificate. I don’t think they used to check that closely back in the day. My name on my birth certificate is a long Slavic name, but on my passport it’s the short version. My middle name is completely different on both. My father never liked my middle name so he told the passport office that the name he put on the form for my passport was a baptismal name. We’re Jewish…!

@Heckythump1 sadly, no. Poor Kebab was mortified and insisted on Donna 😂

Derailing thread but one of my husband's grandads was called Arry. Not Harry, Arry.

Yorkshire based, but we're unsure whether it is a pronunciation issue or too mean to spring for the extra letter.

@changingroom - Margaret - Meg- Peg - Peggy.

Kebab is fantastic!! Please tell me you called her that at school too?! :p

Good Morning Kebab!

I knew a little chap who was called Fabian but was known as Bibi.... the school actually refused to call him Bibi and he had know clue he Fabian!

Also knew a Sapphire known as Lulu but her parents started calling her Sapphire just before she started school!

My littlest only refers to herself as her nickname, though we call her by that and her actual name, she's nowhere near school age yet. Can you put two names when you write 'known as' on the form? :p

I know a Bendy - his brother couldn’t say Brendan, and it’s stuck. His mum even signs Bendy on Christmas cards and he’s all grown up now.

Most schools now ask for 'preferred name' on application forms / contact info.

Headteacher here! We have LOADS of kids with a ‘known as’ name;
Harold, Archibald, Isabel for example, known every day as Harry, Archie, Belle.
Full names are used by the Government for exam entries.

I once had a reception child called Donna whose parents said she was known as ‘Kebab’ 😂

My favourite was Mollie who never responded to her name EVER. I was concerned about her hearing so spoke to parents. They said she was only ever known as Michelle at home and they had never called her Mollie. When I said I’d amend our records they made it clear they didn’t want me to, and that she was going to use different names for home and school. 🤷‍♀️

My nickname as a child was Lulu . My actual name is nowhere close to that.

Found out at my Aunt Nance's funeral that she was actually called Annie Miriam.

Senga, which is Agnes backwards

Pearl used to be a common nickname for Margaret (which means Pearl)

Ina (pronounced eye-na) for Georgina, Williamina etc

Dod/Doddie is a Scottish nickname for George

I knew a Biddy - her real name was Winnifred

Had no idea a male relative was called Howard until his funeral. Everyone called him James.

I’ve had a nickname derived from my very unusual first name since I was about seven. Won’t say what it is as it would be very outing. 😀 My parents blessed me with a very unique name….only just grown to like it in the last couple of years.

@funder Not quite the same but I had no idea my great aunt Sue's name was actually Isabel until it was printed on the order of service for her funeral.

No idea why she went with Susan, Isabel is much prettier!

There is no such thing as a "legal name" in the UK. Or rather, you can legally call yourself anything, and get documents in that name, as long as there is no intent to defraud.

As to your other question, I know an Amber nn Bambi and an Olive nn Ollie.

DD’s middle name is Elizabeth as DH and I both had dear granny Bettys (we thought) - turns out DH granny was christened Betty whilst mine was Elizabeth nn Betty (she made the Best shortbread 🥹)

I know a Chloe known as Coco, she is called that at school too. Like others have said, all schools have a known as section on registration forms.

Anthony known as Toby, never Tony

I know a Jordy real name Gordon. Never quite worked that one out!

My friend's son is Aaron but he's known as Beanie. Even at school.

My son has never used his legal name. He is currently sitting GCSEs using his shortened version.

My dad was John but called Jack/Jackie, mostly to seperate him from his dad also called John.
Very close ( under 25) female relative called Sarah but everyone calls her Sally
When Grandma died we found her real name was Ellen and we had always cslled her Helen. They even named my cousin Helen after her !!

My cousin is a (Chris)Topher. I also know a (Ti)Mothy.