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ArchivesRe: Bill from William
in reply to a message by Random
Quite a lot of nicknames change the first letter because often families with several people of the same name needed more options for nicknames. So one family could have a William, Willy, Will, Bill and a Billy. Other nicknames that change the initial:
Margaret = Daisy = Maisy
Mary/Margaret = Molly = Polly
Margaret = Meg = Peg
Martha = Mat(tie) = Pat(tie)
Robert = Rob(by) = Bob(by)
It seems that M nicknames get change to a P and R nicknames get changed to a B.
Margaret = Daisy = Maisy
Mary/Margaret = Molly = Polly
Margaret = Meg = Peg
Martha = Mat(tie) = Pat(tie)
Robert = Rob(by) = Bob(by)
It seems that M nicknames get change to a P and R nicknames get changed to a B.
This message was edited 3/5/2007, 10:30 AM
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Replies
The shift M > P is common because M and P are both bilabial sounds (made with the lips). Will > Bill is somewhat similar.
There is a theory that the B of Bob(by) was "attracted" by the B already in Robert, in the same way that Nan became a nickname for Ann.
I can't think of any other examples of an R changing to a B in a nickname, or of R > D except for Richard > Dick. But it may be true that Rs tend to change to other sounds because they are hard for foreigners (and children) to pronounce. Rs are known to change to Ls (Mary > Molly) or are dropped altogether (Margaret > Maggie).
There is a theory that the B of Bob(by) was "attracted" by the B already in Robert, in the same way that Nan became a nickname for Ann.
I can't think of any other examples of an R changing to a B in a nickname, or of R > D except for Richard > Dick. But it may be true that Rs tend to change to other sounds because they are hard for foreigners (and children) to pronounce. Rs are known to change to Ls (Mary > Molly) or are dropped altogether (Margaret > Maggie).
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