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Odd nicknames that seem stranger than the original names

105 replies

MyUnderpants · 06/05/2026 09:22

Some nicknames are just odd. Personally I can't stand Saz as a short form of Sara(h) which is short enough not to need it. But it's logical I guess. Any strange examples?

OP posts:
7238SM · 06/05/2026 09:24

Notso- His surname was Keene.

OriginalSkang · 06/05/2026 09:28

I think Harry being short for Henry is ridiculous

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 06/05/2026 09:30

Peggy for Margaret is quite odd.

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Waitingfordoggo · 06/05/2026 09:32

Polly as a diminutive of Mary is one I came across recently. The names only share one letter and the ‘diminuitive’ is longer than the original 😂

OriginalSkang · 06/05/2026 09:32

Kit for Christopher doesn't make much sense either

MyUnderpants · 06/05/2026 09:33

OriginalSkang · 06/05/2026 09:32

Kit for Christopher doesn't make much sense either

Topher is a bit daft but it makes more sense than Kit.
@Waitingfordoggo my great grandma was Polly. It was only when she went in hospital I realised her name was actually Mary.

OP posts:
Haffway · 06/05/2026 09:34

Daisy for Margaret

Nancy for Anne

Chuck for Charles

Dick for Richard (maybe he was one)

WolfDaysOfMoon · 06/05/2026 09:35

‘Pooh’ for a woman whose name was Mary. Presume it was an AA Milne childhood association, but it was nevertheless odd not cute when ‘Pooh’ was older. And it was definitely just ‘Pooh’, not ‘Pooh Bear’ or anything mildly redeeming.

It’s how she introduced herself at work (in an English state school - ‘hi, I’m Pooh Stevens’) and no-one knew quite what to say, other than assiduously call her ‘Ms Stevens’ whereas other teachers might be more informally addressed in private.

All quite eccentric, really.

momager22 · 06/05/2026 09:36

Yes the Harry/ Henry one does my head in. It’s the same amount of syllables and letters, no shorter surely. Is it because it’s more ‘informal’ sounding ?

MyUnderpants · 06/05/2026 09:37

momager22 · 06/05/2026 09:36

Yes the Harry/ Henry one does my head in. It’s the same amount of syllables and letters, no shorter surely. Is it because it’s more ‘informal’ sounding ?

I have a Harry who's 8 later this month. He gets Hazza, Haz and Haribo. He's not Henry, definitely Harry!

OP posts:
Haffway · 06/05/2026 09:38

Also Hal for Harry/Henry

MyUnderpants · 06/05/2026 09:39

Haffway · 06/05/2026 09:38

Also Hal for Harry/Henry

That's like calling someone who's Terry or Terence Tel.

OP posts:
WolfDaysOfMoon · 06/05/2026 09:40

momager22 · 06/05/2026 09:36

Yes the Harry/ Henry one does my head in. It’s the same amount of syllables and letters, no shorter surely. Is it because it’s more ‘informal’ sounding ?

I suppose it’s from saying the French ‘Henri’, which has a very slight ‘n’ sound, so could sound like ‘Orry’/‘arry’?

OnlyYellowRoses · 06/05/2026 09:42

Jack for John? Just how?!

NeedlePointBreak · 06/05/2026 09:43

My great grandmother was Anne, Ginny for ‘short’!

Wildlynx · 06/05/2026 09:43

Haffway · 06/05/2026 09:34

Daisy for Margaret

Nancy for Anne

Chuck for Charles

Dick for Richard (maybe he was one)

Daisy as the French for ox eye daisy is marguerite

ReignOfError · 06/05/2026 09:43

Haffway · 06/05/2026 09:34

Daisy for Margaret

Nancy for Anne

Chuck for Charles

Dick for Richard (maybe he was one)

Daisy is because of the flower marguerite which is daisy-like. White marguerites are commonly called Paris Daisies.

Edited to add: or see above!

Fiddlesticks1 · 06/05/2026 09:44

Penelope becoming P. Not keen.

PGmicstand · 06/05/2026 09:48

Haffway · 06/05/2026 09:34

Daisy for Margaret

Nancy for Anne

Chuck for Charles

Dick for Richard (maybe he was one)

Daisy for Margaret may come from the idea that a marguerite is a daisy. Presumably the names Margaret and Margery derived from it.

Tooearlyjigsaw · 06/05/2026 09:50

momager22 · 06/05/2026 09:36

Yes the Harry/ Henry one does my head in. It’s the same amount of syllables and letters, no shorter surely. Is it because it’s more ‘informal’ sounding ?

Henry came from the French Henri, but Henri was said differently centuries ago. It sounded more like Harry then, so that was the usual pronunciation in England. I think the Henry pronunciation we have today is actually a later pronunciation that developed.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/05/2026 09:50

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 06/05/2026 09:30

Peggy for Margaret is quite odd.

Those were my grandmother’s names.

Nothingrhymes · 06/05/2026 09:51

There are a couple I really dislike : Baz or Bazza for Barry.

And Beks or Becs for Rebecca. I particularly hate this i think Rebecca is such a lovely name. I'm not keen on Becky as a diminutive but it's a damn site better than the awful Becs.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 06/05/2026 09:52

momager22 · 06/05/2026 09:36

Yes the Harry/ Henry one does my head in. It’s the same amount of syllables and letters, no shorter surely. Is it because it’s more ‘informal’ sounding ?

Yes, it’s that. When we say ‘short for’ that is the modern parlance, it actually should be ‘diminutive’. And diminutive can mean short of course, but it also refers to diminutive suffixes that indicate intimacy and affection - hence how nicknames longer than the original come about.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/05/2026 09:52

NeedlePointBreak · 06/05/2026 09:43

My great grandmother was Anne, Ginny for ‘short’!

That’s strange. My childhood friend’s mum was called Ginny short for Virginia.

Nofeckingway · 06/05/2026 09:53

Betty from Elizabeth . Wonder where the zza thing came from as peculiarly British . Gazza , and calling your mates things like The Gazza . I think it's hilarious and does make me laugh 😂