Yes. I really can't imagine people being caused confusion (lol) from encountering a
Helena nn Lainie unless they had serious BtN mania (seek help). This thread is edging toward OCD.
I have an aunt whose name is Manijeh. Everyone calls her
Kiki. Has this ever been a huge problem for her? Um, not so much. I have an aunt named
Soraya who is called Ghinny (hard G). I referred to my grandmother as "Bobb" until I was about 9 (her name is
Alice). Some people call me "Brer." I had a teacher once whose name is
Eleanor who went by
Bunny. And let's not forget
Bonnie Blue Butler from Gone With the Wind whose real name was
Eugenia Victoria.
A nickname can be any name that sound like a diminutive whether or not it traditionally suggests a first name. I know a
Maggie who is a
Mary Agnes.
Lainie could also be a nickname for
Magdalene. Or Eléonore.
The constant discussion of nicknames on this site is dreadfully uninteresting to me.
This message was edited 3/19/2012, 3:50 PM