Message: "Re: nicknames that became names in their own right"

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[Opinions] Re: nicknames that became names in their own right

by Elinor (guest)

5/29/2008, 6:15 AM

Lisa is the one that strikes me as a "definitely". My best friend is Lisa, and even as a name nerd, the connection to Elisabeth never crosses my mind. I doubt she even knows the connection.

Maisie, Molly and Jack - Yes, because they're so very popular where I live, in their own right. But the older generation (in fact anyone over 35) of Jacks are still John on their birth certificates...And that usage might come back one day.

Also...

Millie
Megan (This has definitely made the transition, including in Wales)
Beth (Where I live, none of them are Elizabeth. A few are Bethan or Bethany.)
Archie
Nina
Ellie (rarely a nn here)

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- 1066

5/29/2008, 12:38 PM

Not necessarily...

If you look at the popularity charts for Jack, it has been used as a full name of some popularity for the entire past century. The least popular it has ever been was in the high one-hundreds. My grandfather in his eighties is named Jack - "just" Jack.

- Lauren B (guest) +1

5/29/2008, 8:26 AM

Molly and Jack

You posting Molly and Jack together like that made me think of a sibset I know of: Lucy, Rosie, Molly and Jack.

The only mn I know from the set is Molly Kate, which is of course another nickname! I have to admit, it's cute, but I think Mary Katherine is even nicer!

- Elinor (Elly747)

5/29/2008, 10:53 AM

Oh, I know two kids named Molly and Jack too. I remember my dad grumbling about "not proper names" when they were born. That was probably right at the beginning of the pet-forms-for-full-names fashion, in the 90s.

- CN (CSwe)

5/29/2008, 7:04 AM

Archie reminded my of Alfie. I think Alfie seems to be very popular too and that's a name I find very nicknamey.

- Elinor (guest)

5/29/2008, 6:16 AM

Adding Evie, Lola, Libby and Tilly ...

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