New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesShortening of Richard to Dick?
Hi. Does anyone know why Dick is short for Richard and Bill is short for William? They just don't seem to make sense as short forms of these names.
1
Replies
Here goes...
Mike C. (the webmaster himself!) appeared on a radio show to talk about this. Here's a link from the archives that summarizes it:
http://www.behindthename.com/wwwboardarc/messages/13786.html
Mike C. (the webmaster himself!) appeared on a radio show to talk about this. Here's a link from the archives that summarizes it:
http://www.behindthename.com/wwwboardarc/messages/13786.html
1
Nell and Eleanor/Helen
That's very interesting! Do you think that this also applies to Nell as a pet form of Eleanor? So that would mean Nelly was rhymed with Elly?
On the other hand, Nell is more common as a pet form of Helen. "Hell" was obviously a bad abbreviation of the name. Since Helen (and Eleanor too) has n in the middle, do you think that might have influenced the addition of n at the beginning?
That's very interesting! Do you think that this also applies to Nell as a pet form of Eleanor? So that would mean Nelly was rhymed with Elly?
On the other hand, Nell is more common as a pet form of Helen. "Hell" was obviously a bad abbreviation of the name. Since Helen (and Eleanor too) has n in the middle, do you think that might have influenced the addition of n at the beginning?
1
Wasn't there a guy who thought that people could get all sorts of interesting nicknames by putting an N in front of the first syllables of names that started with vowels?
If I remember correctly, it's because of that guy that we have Ned (Edward), Nan (Ann), and Nell (Eleanor/Helen). Because Hs aren't always stongly pronounced, it's quite logical to me that the name Helen would be considered a name starting with a vowel.
Not sure this is right, but I think it is.
Array
If I remember correctly, it's because of that guy that we have Ned (Edward), Nan (Ann), and Nell (Eleanor/Helen). Because Hs aren't always stongly pronounced, it's quite logical to me that the name Helen would be considered a name starting with a vowel.
Not sure this is right, but I think it is.
Array
1
Yes, h is or was considered a vowel. You may know the rule, a before consonants, an before vowels? In older books, you may find "an hat" etc.
Y :)
Y :)
1