Message: "Margaret = Peggy"

Margaret = Peggy

by Corinne (guest)

7/31/2002, 6:02 PM

A relative in Sweden recently asked me why my sister-in-law Margaret is called Peggy.
Does anyone know the origin of this practice?

Replies

- Peter D (guest)

11/17/2002, 4:57 AM

Hello Corrine

Did you get any favourable responses to your query on why Margaret is called Peggy or the origin of "Peggy".

My Mum's name is Margaret and has always been called "Peggy"?

Thanks
Peter

- Corinne (guest)

8/3/2002, 7:49 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll send them on to my relative in Sweden and to
sister-in-law Margaret = Peggy.
Fun site! I'll be back.

- Elle (guest)

8/1/2002, 7:37 PM

I don't know if this is why, but Peggy and Margaret both mean pearl.

- Anneza (guest) +3

8/1/2002, 1:22 AM

The origin is a hard one to answer! But, Margaret can easily become Maggie, which drops the R; Maggie or Mag becomes Meg, which is or used to be the preferred Scottish nickname form, and Peg rhymes with Meg! The same kindof thing happened with Mary, which became Molly (R is a hard sound for children, and most nicknames come from other children in the family who can't quite get their young tongues round the new sibling's real name) and then Polly. For boys, Robert to Bob is similar, I think.

- Rosey (guest) +2

8/1/2002, 6:06 AM

A lot of names with the letter R in them have developed short forms in the past which leave out the R e.g. Christopher has the short form Kit, Sarah became Sally, Bridget becomes Biddy (not Briddy) and Frances became Fanny (not Franny) although this isn't used much in Britain now because Fanny has developed as a slang term for the female genitals!
Also in modern times the Z seems to replace the R sound e.g. Karen/Caroline becomes Kaz/Caz, Barry becomes Baz, Sharon becomes Shaz or Shazza as a nickname.

Rosey.

- Anneza (guest) +1

8/2/2002, 1:13 AM

Good thinking! Far be it form me to rain on our mutual parade, but there's also Terence -> Terry -> Tel! Nothing proves anything, but it's all fun.

- Rosey (guest)

8/2/2002, 6:07 AM

Very true! You've just reminded me of another one: Derek = Del as in Del Boy in "Only Fools and Horses" (V funny tv comedy).

- Lissa (guest) +1

7/31/2002, 8:35 PM

I know have heard of people who have nicknames that are no where near their given names.
I know two people who practice this:
Caroline = Anne
Lois = Holly

- SaraJ (Adelaide's mom) (guest)

8/2/2002, 8:43 AM

I can understand Caroline... sort of... but Lois = Holly beats all. Although I did know of a kid who was named family names (Hubert something), but his parents called him Jake just because they liked that name.

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