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:
- Regency Home has some interesting pages. They have three pages that track popular names in Regency Caernarvonshire, London and Bedfordshire.
- Stuff and Nonsense has several interesting gadgets include a Regency Name Generator, Regency Place Name Generator and a Map of England 1660-1892.
- And I enjoyed reading Elena at Risky Regencies' article about the problems historical fiction writers find when naming their characters.
- Also a great resource for Jane Austen fans is Pemberley.com's Jane Austen Character Names. I'm also working on putting together a blog/database of my own so check out my Jane Austen Names.
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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