classic names with quirky nicknames?

[AmberGuide]

Recently realized that I quite like classic names that have quirky nicknames, and was wondering if anyone could think of any. Things like these:

Boys

1. Laurence "Laurie" -> not too unexpected, but still kind of quirky I'd say?
2. Christopher "Kit"
3. Robert "Robin"
4. James "Jem"
5. Nicholas "Nico"

Girls

1. Marjorie "Romy" -> love!
2. Ophelia "Effie"
3. Elizabeth "Birdie"
4. Charlotte "Lola"

I have more trouble with this sort of thing for girls, because it seems most girls nicknames are quite quirky in their own right. Just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions for either gender because I'm finding myself liking these types of diminutives quite a bit :)

Alexandra - Sacha.

@Skybluepinky "None of those are quirky"

Not even Patch?🤣

They're not nicknames though , they are diminutives ie shortenings.
Nicknames develop over time.
My partner's NN is a job he used to do, nothing to do with his actual name.

@Nonewclothes2024 "They're not nicknames though , they are diminutives ie shortenings"

I've given up that battle-even though my teeth itch!

Same 😄 the amount of times I’ve posted that on MN 😄

OP I know 4 Josephs who go by Jos - one being my own child. Surprised it’s not come up yet! Jos Buttler and Joss Wheedon are both famous Josephs.

How do you get from Elizabeth to Birdie, OP?

I’d always assume a Jos was Jocelyn!

That’s fine 🤷🏻‍♀️ it can be short for Jocelyn too.

Felicity - Flick/Fliss/Kitty
Margaret - Peggy
Esther - Tettie

I like Lisby. I've not heard that before. I might name change and adopt it myself. 😂

The only ones I can think of that I've heard are:
Suzanna- Zuzia
Amelia - Millie and Mimi
Alexander - Xander

Struggling to come up with anything that quirky tbh. But some lesser used nicknames...

Libby, Bunty or Bunny for Elizabeth
Sandy for Alexander
Peggy for Margaret
Jack for John
Mamie for Mary
Minnie for Whilimena
Kitty for Katharine
Ned for Edward
Dot for Dorothy
Ike for Isaac

My favourite style of name - I love a classic with a quirky nn, especially for boys.

Nathaniel - Han
Alexander - Lex or Xan
Benedict - Ned
Frederick - Red
Dominic -Nico
Oliver - Lev or Orry
Michael or Charles- Cal

Claudia, Christina or Tabitha - Kit/Kitty
Madeleine or Marianne -May
Juliet- Jet or Etty
Caroline - Cal/Callie
Victoria- Vita
Antonia - Anya or Nina

I've heard it a few times here and there, but off the top of my head they use it in Mad Men! I'm pretty sure it's one of the most common "full names" for Birdie, with the others being Bridget/Beatrice etc

It’s all a bit try-hard and cringey.

If you like a “quirky” name, just call the kid that name. What’s the point of the formal version?

Felicity - Flick

Elizabeth - Buffy

Because it’s hedging your bets for the child’s sake. The parents may love Birdie, but they're not the ones who have to live with the name - Elizabeth on the BC (or another classic name) gives the child more options to decide what THEY want to be called once old enough (might be Birdie, might not).

Rather than being “try- hard” or “cringey” OP seems to be thinking (or “trying hard”🙄) to do the best for her child, while still calling them a name they personally love.

Bridget - Delia
Margaret - Peggy
Sarah - Sally
Ellen - Nellie

In previous generations this was quite common. Played havoc with my family tree.

This is true, and also because I really like classic names but I don't usually like their dimininutives (eg love Nathaniel, hate Nate!). But honestly it was mostly just to see if people had other names that fit this sort of criteria haha I already have my kids names figured out! But you're correct, I would never name a child Birdie as their full legal name, even though I think it's a cute nickname (or diminutive, sorry pp)