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[Opinions] Regarding some nicknames
I often post, in discussions about nick names, that I don't think NN's necessarily need to be logical, or simply based just on the letters in a name.
I now came across a couple as I read a thing about Jessica Mitford. She was apparently called Decca. One of her daughters, Constancia , was called Donk.
What do you think of these? I thought it was interesting.
What are your general views on NN's, "rules" for NN's, how creative one can be etc.
My only "rule", if one can call it that, would be that it is kind of awkward to use an established nn for some other name, or a name that is an independent name as a nn, because it will confuse people.
Example - I didn't think it was a good idea to use Erica as a nn for America.
With the established nn's I'm more lenient. Sure, if I hear Nell, I'll think Helen, but it is not going to annoy me if it turns out to be a nn for Penelope.
More so, like if one hears Lotta in Swden, it is a given her name is Charlotta / Charlotte. If I found out her name was... Lovisa, it would kind of annoy me.
Anyway, enough.
Your thoughts?

This message was edited 1/19/2007, 1:12 PM

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I know a Jenelle who goes by Nell which is acceptable I think.
My brother Alexander's nickname is Zand.Some odd nick names I've heard of are
'Peter' for a man called Ernest Archibald Maynard.
'Tom' for David Charles
Found it quite annoying, because I couldn't figure out where they'd come from and when someone said Mr David so and so, how is anyone supposed to know that it's Tom so and so? Crazy.Having said that the nn my siblings gave me is Pinky / Pink, which they still use today. That came about by being called a made up word (pinkyschnokle) which was shortened to Pinky. It just stuck. Having said that no one outside my siblings would ever call me that.ed. for afterthought.

This message was edited 1/19/2007, 3:10 PM

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i think anything can go as a nn. Even if its not related to the name at all.
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I am all for nicknames. I think they are great for just cutesy purposes, say, if you used Nell for Penelope. I call my daughter Nat for short of Natalie. I agree with you on the names-as-nns point, I dislike when a guy named John goes by Jack. Makes no sense to me. Also, I have had friends whose nicknames have, in ways, morphed over time to things that are a little strange, for instance, my friend Margaret now goes by Mango. All in all, I like nicknames.
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