Saturday, September 17, 2011

English Nicknames in Jane Austen's Day


As promised, here is a list of English Nicknames! Not all of these names were used in Jane Austen's novels but most of these would have been used during her day. As always not everyone would use a nickname and which nickname was used would be the parent's choice. Some of these I've noted as being used in more modern times or by specific nationalities. 


Ladies:
  • Agatha - Ag, Aggie, Tag, Taggie
  • Ann / Anne - Annie, Nan, Nannie, Nancy
  • Barbara - Babs, Barbie, Bobbi 
  • Brigid - Biddy, Birdie
  • Caroline - Caro, Carrie
  • Cassandra - Callie, Cassie
  • Catherine / Katherine - Cat, Cathy, Kate, Kathy, Katie, Kit, Kitty
  • Charlotte - Charley, Lottie
  • Clara / Clarissa - Clare, Clarey
  • Dolores - Dolly, Lola
  • Dorothy - Dodie, Dodo, Dolly, Dorie, Dot, Dottie
  • Eleanor / Elinor - Ella, Ellie, Nora
  • Elizabeth - Bess, Bessie, Beth, Bethan (Welsh) Betsey, Betsy, Bette (French), Betty, Elsie (Scottish often used for Elspeth), Eliza, Leeza, Libby, Lise, Lisette (French), Liz, Liza, Lizzie, Lizzy, Tibby
  • Esther - Essie, Ettie
  • Felicity - Fliss, Lissie
  • Florence - Flo, Flora (Scottish), Florrie, Floss, Flossie
  • Frances - Fanny, Fran, Frannie
  • Georgiana / Georgina - Georgie, Gina
  • Harriet - Hattie
  • Helen / Ellen - Nell, Nellie, Nelly
  • Henrietta - Etta, Hettie, Hetty
  • Isabel / Isabella - Bel, Bella, Belle, Izzy (Modern), Nib, Nibbie
  • Jane - Janie, Janet, Jenny
  • Josephine - Jo, Jodie, Josie
  • Julia - Jule, Julie, Juley
  • Margaret - Daisy (from the French Marguerite), Maggie, Marg, Margery, Margot (French), Meg, Megan (Welsh), Meggie, Peg, Peggy (Scottish), Pegeen (Irish)
  • Maria - Mari, Marie, Mary 
  • Mary - Maidie, Maisie (Scottish), Malkin, Marion, May (used by royalty), Minnie, Molly, Molly, Polly
  • Matilda - Mattie, Matty, Tilda, Tilly
  • Philippa - Pip, Pippa, Pippi
  • Sarah - Sadie, Sally, Saro (1800's)
  • Sophia - Sophie, Sophy
  • Susan / Susana - Sue, Sukey, Sukie, Susie (more modern)
  • Teresa / Theresa - Tess, Tessa, Tessie, Terry (modern)      

Gentlemen:

  • Adam - Adcock, Adekin, Adkin
  • Albert - Al, Bert, Bertie
  • Alexander - Alec (Scottish), Alex, Lex (modern), Xander (foreign)
  • Andrew - Andy, Dandy, Drew (modern)
  • Charles - Charlie (often Scottish), Chaz (modern), Chip, Chuck
  • Christopher - Christ, Christie (often Scottish), Kit
  • David - Dakin, Dave, Davey, Dawkin
  • Edward - Ed, Eddie, Ned, Ted, Ward (modern)  [some of these nickname also used for Edgar & Edmond / Edmund]
  • Francis - Francie (1800's Irish), Frank, Frankie, Frankin
  • Frederic / Frederick - Fred, Freddie, Freddy, Fritz (German)
  • Geoffrey - Geffrin, Jeff, Jepp
  • George - Georgie
  • Gilbert - Gib, Gibbin, Gibby, Gil 
  • Harold - Hal, Harry
  • Henry - Hal, Hank, Hankin, Harry, Hawkin, Henecok, Henkin
  • James - Jaime (often Scottish or Irish), Jake (because James is a form of Jacob), Jem, Jim, Jimmy
  • John - Jack, Jackie, Jankin, Jenkin, Jock (Scottish), Johncock, Johnny
  • Joseph - Joe, Josey
  • Lawrence / Laurence - Larkin, Larry (modern), Laurie  
  • Luke - Luckin, Lukin
  • Matthew - Makin, Matt, Maycock, Maykin
  • Michael - Mick, Mickey (often Irish), Mike, Mikey
  • Nicholas - Cole, Colin (Scottish), Nick, Nicky
  • Oliver - Noll, Ollie
  • Peter - Parkin, Perkin, Pete (modern), Peterkin
  • Philip / Phillip - Phil, Philkin, Pip, Pippin
  • Ralph - Rafe, Rawkin
  • Richard - Dick, Dickin, Hick, Rich (modern), Rick
  • Robert - Bob, Bobby, Dob, Hob, Hobkin, Nob, Rabbie (Scottish), Rob, Eobin, Robbie, Robby
  • Roger - Dodge, Hodge, Hodgkin, Nodge, Rodge, Rodgkin
  • Samuel - Sam, Sammy
  • Simon - Sim, Simkin
  • Theodore - Dorie, Ned, Ted, Teddy, Theo
  • Thomas - Tam, Tom, Tomkin, Tonk, Tonkin
  • Walter - Wally (modern), Walt, Watkin
  • William - Bill, Billy, Liam (Irish), Wilcock, Wilk, Wilkin, Will, Willie, Wills, Willy

While I was searching for some history about Regency names I came across a few websites and articles of interest.

Links:

Do any of these nicknames surprise you? 

Your Resident Name Enthusiast,
Miss Laurie :)

P.S. I'm still planning on posting about Jane Austen & English Nicknames on Old-Fashioned Charm bit it's going to take me a but to edit it so it's more readable. Thanks for all of your encouragement! 

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