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HelpBeautiful classic names with unbeautiful nicknames
What are some fancy-beautiful classic names that have rather less beautiful short forms? (this is for a 14 year old story character. Set in contemporary times)
So far I've thought of:
Antonia "Toni" (this is my favourite option thus far, but not sure if a contemporary teenaged Antonia would be believable)
Christina "Chrissy, Chris"
Isabelle "Izzy"
Victoria "Vic, Vicki" (though I don't know if that's ugly enough)
Veronica "Ronnie" (though I don't know if Veronica is classic enough)
Miranda "Randi"
Juliana/Julia "Jules"?
Helena "Hel"
...any other ideas?
So far I've thought of:
Antonia "Toni" (this is my favourite option thus far, but not sure if a contemporary teenaged Antonia would be believable)
Christina "Chrissy, Chris"
Isabelle "Izzy"
Victoria "Vic, Vicki" (though I don't know if that's ugly enough)
Veronica "Ronnie" (though I don't know if Veronica is classic enough)
Miranda "Randi"
Juliana/Julia "Jules"?
Helena "Hel"
...any other ideas?
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Without having looked at the others' responses (sorry for any repeats):
Pamela "Pam" or "Pammie"
Patricia "Pat", "Patty", or "Patsy"
Cassandra "Cass"
Charlotte "Charlie"
Alexandra or Alexandria "Alex", "Ally"
Penelope "Nell"
Louisa or Louise or Lucy or Lucia "Lou" / "Lu"
Susanna or Susan "Sue"
Juliana "Jules"
Pamela "Pam" or "Pammie"
Patricia "Pat", "Patty", or "Patsy"
Cassandra "Cass"
Charlotte "Charlie"
Alexandra or Alexandria "Alex", "Ally"
Penelope "Nell"
Louisa or Louise or Lucy or Lucia "Lou" / "Lu"
Susanna or Susan "Sue"
Juliana "Jules"
This message was edited 3/6/2014, 12:39 AM
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Theresa / Therese - "Terry"
Margaret - "Marge" or "Peggy"
Alexandra -"Sandy"
Caroline - "Carol"
Matilda - "Tilda" or "Tilly"
Melissa - "Mel"
Dominique - "Dom"
Bernice - "Bernie"
Tabitha - "Tibby"
I call my friend Marybeth "Marb" sometimes so maybe something like Mary Katherine (Mary-Kate) "Mark". Also I'll always remember this movie I watched in middle school that had this tomboy whose name was Iris but insisted on going by "Ira"
Margaret - "Marge" or "Peggy"
Alexandra -"Sandy"
Caroline - "Carol"
Matilda - "Tilda" or "Tilly"
Melissa - "Mel"
Dominique - "Dom"
Bernice - "Bernie"
Tabitha - "Tibby"
I call my friend Marybeth "Marb" sometimes so maybe something like Mary Katherine (Mary-Kate) "Mark". Also I'll always remember this movie I watched in middle school that had this tomboy whose name was Iris but insisted on going by "Ira"
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Ohh, Mary-Katherine "Mark/Markie" could be interesting. I never thought about using a compound name, but that could be a good idea.
The thing about the character that I'd like to get across is that she feels trapped in a powerless state by her family, as represented by their excessive use of an unflattering pet name for her when she has a much more beautiful name. Her full name becomes a point of obsession as it becomes this alternate reality of who she thinks she could have been. Her name becomes a separate person from herself.
The thing about the character that I'd like to get across is that she feels trapped in a powerless state by her family, as represented by their excessive use of an unflattering pet name for her when she has a much more beautiful name. Her full name becomes a point of obsession as it becomes this alternate reality of who she thinks she could have been. Her name becomes a separate person from herself.
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Letitia is very beautiful, but Lettie, Titty, and Tish are all atrocious.
Fanny is also pretty bad. I had a Fanny in my family - her real name was Franciszka.
I also can't stand Willy/Willie for Wilhelmina. It looks so boyish.
Fanny is also pretty bad. I had a Fanny in my family - her real name was Franciszka.
I also can't stand Willy/Willie for Wilhelmina. It looks so boyish.
This message was edited 3/2/2014, 8:40 AM
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Veronica "Ronnie" and Miranda "Randi" work well. I think Veronica is classic enough. :) While it hasn't stayed really popular through the years like Elizabeth, it has been in steady usage for quite some time and has a lot of history behind it, so I think it counts.
I see Antonia as an international name, so a contemporary teenaged Antonia would be believable, particularly if her parents were immigrants or they just wanted to honor their heritage. I know of an Antonia in her early 20's. She's Hispanic.
Others:
Elizabeth "Izzy"
Andrea "Andi" - Maybe not ugly per se, but I've never cared for Andi for girls. It doesn't seem feminine to me.
Bernadette "Bernie" - I know of a Bernadette who is about 25. It isn't common for young people these days, but I'd still find it believable, especially if a character came from a bookish, upper crust, or Catholic family.
Georgia or Georgiana "Georgie"
Samantha "Sam" - I don't find Sam to be necessarily ugly, but I don't see it as all that flattering. It could work.
Stephanie "Stevie"
Jacqueline "Jack" or "Jackie"
Aurora "Rory" - Not exactly classic, but Aurora has been in use since the Renaissance.
Charlotte "Charlie"
Eleanor / Elinor "Nori"
Danielle or Daniela / Daniella "Dani"
I see Antonia as an international name, so a contemporary teenaged Antonia would be believable, particularly if her parents were immigrants or they just wanted to honor their heritage. I know of an Antonia in her early 20's. She's Hispanic.
Others:
Elizabeth "Izzy"
Andrea "Andi" - Maybe not ugly per se, but I've never cared for Andi for girls. It doesn't seem feminine to me.
Bernadette "Bernie" - I know of a Bernadette who is about 25. It isn't common for young people these days, but I'd still find it believable, especially if a character came from a bookish, upper crust, or Catholic family.
Georgia or Georgiana "Georgie"
Samantha "Sam" - I don't find Sam to be necessarily ugly, but I don't see it as all that flattering. It could work.
Stephanie "Stevie"
Jacqueline "Jack" or "Jackie"
Aurora "Rory" - Not exactly classic, but Aurora has been in use since the Renaissance.
Charlotte "Charlie"
Eleanor / Elinor "Nori"
Danielle or Daniela / Daniella "Dani"
This message was edited 3/2/2014, 5:22 AM
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Elizabeth has some crackers: Liz is unlovely, and there's always Bet, Bette, Betty ...
Give her some Greek relatives, use Dimitra and call her Dim.
I've always found Tori to be way uglier than any Vicky variant.
Frances could I suppose still become Fanny.
If you do go for Antonia or Antoinette (perhaps named after Granddad Tony) you might consider the truly OTT nn of Ant. Happens to Antony men here in SA.
Give her some Greek relatives, use Dimitra and call her Dim.
I've always found Tori to be way uglier than any Vicky variant.
Frances could I suppose still become Fanny.
If you do go for Antonia or Antoinette (perhaps named after Granddad Tony) you might consider the truly OTT nn of Ant. Happens to Antony men here in SA.
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Antonia "Ant" is an AMAZING idea I like that a lot!! Yes very very good Thank you!
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Penelope "Penny"
Natalie/Natalia "Nat"
Cassandra "Sandy"
Valerie "Val"
Madeleine "Maddie"
Violet "Vi"
Natalie/Natalia "Nat"
Cassandra "Sandy"
Valerie "Val"
Madeleine "Maddie"
Violet "Vi"
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Antoinette would be an alternative to Antonia. I like Antoinette and I actually think Toni is quite cute.
Annabelle: Annie/Belle/Bella
Alexandra: Lexi, Alex
Christina is really pretty and very believable on a teenager, though you don't see Chrissy or Chris used much anymore.
Katherine: Katie.
Veronica: quite classic. I know a Veronica about to graduate high school whose nn is Rocky. She was very nearly killed in a car accident and had to learn to walk and talk all over again, and that's when her family started calling her Rocky, because she was so brave and worked so hard.
Elizabeth: Betty
Julia: Juju.
Patricia: Patsy
Annabelle: Annie/Belle/Bella
Alexandra: Lexi, Alex
Christina is really pretty and very believable on a teenager, though you don't see Chrissy or Chris used much anymore.
Katherine: Katie.
Veronica: quite classic. I know a Veronica about to graduate high school whose nn is Rocky. She was very nearly killed in a car accident and had to learn to walk and talk all over again, and that's when her family started calling her Rocky, because she was so brave and worked so hard.
Elizabeth: Betty
Julia: Juju.
Patricia: Patsy
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