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Terminology and Meanings of Common Nicknames and Their Given Name Equivalents

Male Nickname Proper Name Female Nickname Proper Name
Abe, Abram → Abraham Abbie, Abby → Abigail, Tabitha
Alec, Alex → Alexander Addie, Addy → Adelaide, Adeline
Arch, Archie → Archibald Allie → Alice
Augie → August Annie → Ann, Anna
Bart → Bartholomew Bab, Babbie → Barbara
Bat → Bartholomew Becca → Rebecca
Bert → Albert, Cuthbert Becky → Rebecca
Bige → Abijah Bede → Obedience
Bill, Billy → William Bella → Arabella, Isabella, Mehetable, Mehitabel
Bob, Bobby → Robert Belle → Isabel, Isabella, Mehetable, Mehitabel
Cager → Micajah Bess, Bessie → Elizabeth
Chan → Chauncey Beth → Elizabeth
Chris → Christopher Betsey → Elizabeth
Chuck → Charles Betty → Bethia, Elizabeth
Con → Cornelius Biah → Abiah
Cuddy → Cuthbert Biddy, Biddie → Bridget, Brigid, Obedience
Cy → Cyrus Briney → Sybrina
Dick → Richard Caddie → Caroline
Dirch → Derrick Callie → Caroline
Dob, Dobbin → Robert Carrie → Caroline
Dyer → Obediah Cassie → Cassandra
Eben → Ebenezer Cindy → Lucinda, Luciana, Cynthia
Ed, Eddie → Edward, Edmund Clara → Clarissa, Clarinda
Eppa → Epaphroditus Cleda → Cleophas
Fate, Fayette → Lafayette Clemmie → Clementine
Finney → Phineas Con, Connie → Constance
Frank → Francis Crece, Crese → Lucretia
Fred → Frederick, Winifred Crecy → Lucretia
Gene → Eugene Debby → Deborah
Gus → August Delia → Adelia, Bedelia, Cordelia, Fidelia, Phidelia
Hal → Harold, Henry Delphia → Philadelphia
Ham → Hamilton Dimmis → Damaris
Hank → Henry Dolly → Dorothy
Harry → Henry, Harold Donia → Fredonia
Hiley → Hiram Dosia → Theodosia
Hy → Hiram Dot → Dorothy
Ike → Isaac Edie → Edith
Jack → Jackson, John Eliza → Elizabeth
Jake → Jacob Ellen → Eleanor, Elinamifia
Jed → Jedediah, Jeduthan Elly → Eleanore, Ellen, Helen
Jeremy → Jeremiah Elsie → Alice, Eleanor, Ellen, Ealasaid (Gaelic), Helen
Jerry → Gerald, Jeremiah Emmy → Emily, Emeline
Jude → Judah Essie → Esther, Hester
Judy → Judah Etta → Henrietta, Louetta, Marietta
Kiah → Hezekiah Fally → Eliphal
Kit → Christopher Fanny → Frances
Lazar → Eleazer Flora → Florence
Larry → Lawrence Flossie → Florence
Lig, Lige, Lije → Elijah Frankie → Frances
Lou, Louie → Louis Fronie → Sophronia
Mal → Malachi, Malcolm Gen → Genevieve, Virginia
Nat, Nate → Nathaniel Gerty → Gertrude
Ned → Edwin, Edward Ginny → Virginia
Newt → Newton Gussie → Augusta
Obed → Obediah Hatty → Harriet
Ollie → Oliver Hepsy → Hepsibah
Paddy → Patrick Hermie → Hermione
Pat → Patrick Hetty → Henrietta, Mehetable, Mehitabel
Pleas → Pleasant Hitty → Mehetable, Mehitabel
Quill → Aquilla Jenny → Jane, Janet, Genevieve, Virginia
Riah → Zachariah Judy → Judith
Rias → Zachariah Julie → Julia
Rich → Richard Kate → Catharine, Cathleen, Katharine, Kathleen
Rick → Richard Kay → Catherine, Cathleen, Katherine, Kathleen
Rob → Robert Kersty → Christina (Scottish origin)
Rye → Zachariah Kitty → Catherine, Katherine
Sandy → Alexander Kizzie → Kesiah
Si → Josiah, Cyrus Leafy → Relief
Tad → Thaddeus Lena → Angelina, Caroline, Helen, Madeleine, Magdalen
Ted, Teddy → Theodore Lecta → Electa
Tiah → Azariah Letty → Letitia
Theo → Theophilus Libbie → Elizabeth
Tony → Anthony Lisa → Melissa
Virg → Virgil Livy → Olive, Olivia
Zack → Zachariah Liza → Adeliza, Elizabeth
Zander → Alexander Liz, Lizzie → Elizabeth
Will, Willie, Willy → Wiley, William Lollie → Charlotte
Lottie → Charlotte
Lou → Louetta, Louisa, Louise
Lucy → Lucinda, Luciana
Lynne → Belinda, Melinda
Mabel → Mehetable, Mehitabel
Madge → Margaret, Margery
Maggie → Margaret
Maida → Madeleine, Magdalena
Mallie → Malvina
Mamie → Mary
Manda, Mandy → Amanda
Margie → Margaret
Mate → Mary (NY State, 1840s)
Mattie → Martha
Mellie → Amelia, Melanie, Melinda, Melissa, Permelia
Meg → Margaret
Mena → Almena
Millie → Amelia, Emelia, Mellicent, Mildred
Mima → Jemima
Mimi → Mary
Mina → Mindwell, Wilhelmina
Minnie → Mary, Wilhelmina
Missy → Melissa
Myra → Elmira
Mitty → Mehetable, Mehitabel, Submit
Mollie → Martha, Mary
Nabby → Abigail
Nan → Ann, Anna , Ellen
Nancy → Ann, Anna, Agnes
Nannie → Nancy, Anna
Nell → Helen
Nellie → Cornelia, Eleanor, Ellen, Helen
Nettie → Antoinette, Henrietta
Neva → Genevieve
Nonie → Joan
Nora → Eleanor, Honora, Leonora
Orolia → Caroline
Patsy → Martha
Patty → Martha, Parthenia, Patience, Patricia
Peggy → Margaret
Peddie, Peddy → Experience
Penny → Penelope
Phil → Philadelphia, Philomena
Phoenie, Pheney → Tryphena
Phosy → Tryphosia
Polly → Mary
Pru, Prue → Prudence
Puss → Prudence, Philadelphia
Rana → Lorraine
Reenie → Irene, Maureen, Sabrena, Serena
Rena → Alexanderina, Irene, Sabrina
Retta → Loretta
Rilla → Gabrilla, Marilla
Rita → Marguerite
Sally → Sarah
Sene → Asenath
Silla → Priscilla
Sissie → Cecily, Cecilia
Sophie → Sophia, Sophronia
Sukey → Sarah, Susan, Susannah
Tabby → Tabitha
Tallie → Natalie
Tempy → Temperance
Tennie → Tennessee
Tenty → Content
Tess → Theresa
Thea → Althea, Theodosia
Thenie → Parthenia
Thirza → Theresa
Tilly → Matilda
Tina → Christina
Torie → Victoria
Trudy → Gertrude
Vergie → Virginia
Viney, Vinnie, Viny → Lavina, Lavinia, Louvina, Melvina
Waity → Waitstill
Winnet → Winifred
Winnie → Winifred, Edwina
Zubia → Azubah