New Post
Search
HelpRe: Bob & Bill & Peggy
in reply to a message by RB Constance
In the absence of a time machine, these are guesses.
Margaret: shortens to Maggie very easily. If you're bored or playful, Maggie can morph into Meggie. Once that's done, all you need is a sibling with a bad cold (this is the UK we're talking about, back in the Middle Ages probably) and you get Peggy.
Molly and Mary: I also detect the presence of a sibling here. R sounds are notoriously difficult for children, so Molly could be their best attempt at Mary. And it took on a life of its own and, same as Meggie, morphed into Polly.
Jack, or Jock in Scotland, = Johnkin = little John, like a lambkin! And it got shortened.
Bob and Bill also seem to be likely mistakes made by the very young; babies and toddlers find /b/, /d/, /p/ and /m/ easy to say (think baba, dada, papa, mama ...). Parents think this is cute, and perpetuate it.
Margaret: shortens to Maggie very easily. If you're bored or playful, Maggie can morph into Meggie. Once that's done, all you need is a sibling with a bad cold (this is the UK we're talking about, back in the Middle Ages probably) and you get Peggy.
Molly and Mary: I also detect the presence of a sibling here. R sounds are notoriously difficult for children, so Molly could be their best attempt at Mary. And it took on a life of its own and, same as Meggie, morphed into Polly.
Jack, or Jock in Scotland, = Johnkin = little John, like a lambkin! And it got shortened.
Bob and Bill also seem to be likely mistakes made by the very young; babies and toddlers find /b/, /d/, /p/ and /m/ easy to say (think baba, dada, papa, mama ...). Parents think this is cute, and perpetuate it.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I never realized that Jack, coming from Johnkin, is little John. Johnkin is adorable and does make me think of Jack differently.
1