And nick names are used for endearments, not just for shortening.
Like
Lolita for
Lola, Carmencita for
Carmen,
Gracie for
Grace,
Ruthie for
Ruth,
Johnny for
John,
Jimmy for
James,
Charlie for
Charles.
Molly is no shorter than
Mary but easier to say for a child.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson,
Garden Party
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (
Edith Södergran 1891-1923)