Hypocorism
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A hypocorism (/haɪˈpɒkərɪzəm/ hy-POK-ər-iz-əm; from Ancient Greek ὑποκόρισμα (hypokorisma), from ὑποκορίζεσθαι (hypokorizesthai), meaning 'to use child-talk'[1]), also called a hypocoristicon, is a diminutive form of a name. Hypocorisms include pet names or calling names,[2] often a diminutive or augmentative form of a word or given name when used as a nickname or term of endearment.
Contents
- 1 Examples of hypocoristic proper names
- 1.1 Armenian
- 1.2 Azerbaijani
- 1.3 Bengali
- 1.4 Bulgarian
- 1.5 Catalan
- 1.6 Croatian
- 1.7 Czech
- 1.8 Danish
- 1.9 Dutch
- 1.10 English
- 1.11 Esperanto
- 1.12 French
- 1.13 German
- 1.14 Hungarian
- 1.15 Icelandic
- 1.16 Japanese
- 1.17 Nepali
- 1.18 Persian
- 1.19 Polish
- 1.20 Portuguese
- 1.21 Romanian
- 1.22 Russian
- 1.23 Scottish Gaelic
- 1.24 Serbian
- 1.25 Sinhala
- 1.26 Slovak
- 1.27 Slovene
- 1.28 Spanish
- 1.29 Swedish
- 1.30 Turkish
- 1.31 Welsh
- 1.32 Yiddish (and contemporary Hebrew)
- 1.33 Yoruba
- 2 References
- 3 External links
Examples of hypocoristic proper names[edit]
Armenian[edit]
- Անդրանիկ Andranik → Անդո Ando
- Հովհաննես Hovhannes → Հովո Hovo
- Տիգրան Tigran → Տիկո Tiko
- Հայկ Hayk → Հայկո Hayko
Azerbaijani[edit]
- Afət, Afaq, Arifə → Afa
- Asif → Aska
- Aytən, Aynur, Aydan, Aybəniz, Aysel, → Ayka
- Bəhruz → Beka
- Elşad, Eldar, Elçin, Elşən, Elmir → Eliş
- Firəngiz → Fira
- Gülnaz, Gülnar, Gültəkin, → Gülia
- İsmayıl → İsí
- Leylá → Leyluş
- Mehin → Meka
- Mətanət → Mətiş
- Nazilə, Nəzakət, Nəzrin → Naza
- Pərvanə → Pəri
- Sevil, Sevda, Sevinc → Seva
- Toğrul → Totu
Bengali[edit]
- Anirban → Ani
- Debmalya → Debu
- Mitalee → Mita
Bulgarian[edit]
The traditional hypocoristic forms of Bulgarian masculine names end with "-cho", for example: Ivan - Ivancho - Vancho, Stoyan - Stoyancho, Petur - Peturcho, Angel - Angelcho. The traditional hypocoristic forms of Bulgarian feminine names end with "-ka", for example: Ivana - Ivanka, Snezhana - Snezhanka, Bozhana - Bozhanka. In recent times, however, the hypocoristic forms of many Bulgarian names receive English and Russian endings, for example:
- Александър Aleksandar → Сашо Sasho, Алекс "Aleks", Санде "Sande"
- Александра Aleksandra → Сашка Sashka
- Ангел Angel → Ачо Acho
- Антон/Антоанета Anton/Antoaneta → Тони Tony
- Апостол Apostol → Апо Apo
- Богомил Bogomil → Бого Bogo
- Божидар Bozhidar → Божо Bozho, Бого Bogo
- Борис Boris → Борко Borko, Боби Bobby
- Борислав Borislav → Боби Bobby
- Веселина Vesselina → Веси Vessy
- Виолета Violeta→ Вили Villy
- Владимир Vladimir → Владо Vlado
- Георги Georgi → Гошо Gosho, Гоце Gotse, Жорка Zhorka, Жоро Zhoro
- Григор Grigor → Гришо Grisho, Гриша Grisha
- Дамян Damyan → Даме Dame
- Даниел/а Daniel/a→ Дани Danny
- Димитър Dimitar → Митко Mitko, Митьо Mityo, Митак Mitak
- Евгения Evgeniya→ Жени Zheni, Ния Nia
- Емил Emil → Емо Emo
- Иван Ivan → Ванко Vanko, Ванчо Vancho, Ванка Vanka, Ваньо Vanyo
- Ивайло Ivaylo → Иво Ivo, Ивчо Ivcho
- Иванка Ivanka → Ваня Vanya
- Йордан Yordan → Данчо Dancho, Дани Dany
- Йорданка Yordanka → Данче Danche, Дани Dany
- Калоян Kaloyan → Кало Kalo, Кала Kala
- Кирил Kirli → Киро Kiro, Кирчо Kircho
- Климент Kliment → Климе Klime
- Константин Konstantin → Косьо Kossyo, Коце Kotse, Коко Koko
- Лиляна Lilyana → Лили Lilly
- Любомир Lyubomir → Любо Lyubo, Любчо Lyubcho
- Любомира Lyubomira → Люба Lyuba
- Мартин Martin → Марто Marto
- Методи(й) Metodi(y)→ Мето Meto
- Мирослав Miroslav → Миро Miro
- Михаил Mihayl → Мишо Misho
- Надежда Nadezhda → Надя Nadya
- Николай Nikolay → Ники Nicky, Кольо Kolyo
- Пламен Plamen → Пацо Patso
- Петър Петър → Пешо Pesho, Пепи Pepi
- Радостина Radostina → Ради Radi, Радка Radka
- Светослав Svetoslav → Светльо Svetlyo
- Симеон Simeon → Мони Moni, Симо Simo
- Симона Simona → Мони Moni
- Стефан Stefan → Стефо Stefo, Стив Steve
- Татяна Tatyana → Таня Tanya
- Тихомир Tihomir → Тишо Tisho
Catalan[edit]
- Anton → Tono
- Antoni → Toni
- Bartomeu → Tomeu, Xumeu
- Benet → Neto
- Carme → Carmina
- Concepció → Ció, Conxita
- Dolors → Dolo
- Elisabet → Bet
- Ferran → Rano
- Francesc → Cesc, Cesco, Xesc, Xisco, Cisco, Siscu, Quico
- Francesca → Xesca, Xisca, Cisca
- Gabriel → Biel
- Isabel → Bel
- Jacint → Cinto
- Jesús → Suso, Xuso
- Joan → Chuano
- Joaquim → Quim, Ximo
- Josefina → Fina → Fineta
- Josep → Pep, Pitu
- Magdalena → Malena, Magda
- Maria → Mariona
- Maria Isabel → Maribel
- Meritxell → Txell
- Miquel → Quelo
- Montserrat → Montse
- Narcís → Narciset → Ciset
- Rafel → Felo
- Salvador → Voro
- Vicent → Sento
Croatian[edit]
- Andrija → Andro, Andre Andrijica, Jašo
- Antun → Ante, Antiša, Tonči, Toni, Tunja
- Danijel → Dane, Danko
- Davorin → Davor, Dado, Rino, Darko
- Dominik → Domo, Domko
- Franjo → Frane, Frano, Fran, Francek
- Ivan → Ivica, Ivo, Ivek, Ico, Ivko, Ićo, Iko, Iva
- Jerolim → Jerko, Jere, Jerkan
- Josip → Joso, Joža, Jozo, Joško, Joco, Jole, Joko, Joza
- Juraj → Jure, Jura, Juko, Jurica, Jurko, Juriša, Jureško
- Luka → Lukša, Lukica, Luketa
- Marko → Maro, Markec, Markan, Markica, Marketa
- Matej → Mate, Mato, Matan, Matko, Mata
- Mihovil, Mihael → Miho, Mijo, Mišo, Miško
- Miroslav → Miro, Mirko
- Nikola → Niko, Nikša, Nikica, Niđo
- Pavao, Pavle → Pavo, Pave, Pavko, Pajo
- Petar → Pero, Perica, Petko, Peko, Peran, Perko
- Robert → Robi, Robo
- Stjepan, Štefan → Stipe, Stipo, Stipko, Stipica, Štef, Štefek, Štefko, Stipa
- Šimun → Šime, Šimunica, Šima
- Tomislav → Tomo, Tomek, Tomica, Tomiša
- Vladimir → Vlado, Vlatko, Vladan, Vlada
- Zvonimir → Zvone, Zvonko
Czech[edit]
Male
- Adam → Áďa
- Bohuslav, Bohumil → Bohuš, Bob
- Čeněk → Čenda
- Daniel → Dan
- Denis → Deni, Deník
- Eduard → Eda
- Ferdinand → Ferda
- František → Fanda, Fany, Franta
- Gabriel → Gaby, Gáb
- Jakub → Kuba
- Jan → Honza, Jenda
- Jaromír, Jaroslav → Jára, Jarek, Jája
- Jindřich → Jindra
- Jiří → Jirka, Jura
- Jonáš → Jon
- Josef → Pepa, Jožin
- Karel → Kája, Karlík
- Kristián, Kryštof → Kris
- Leopold, Leoš → Leo
- Lubomil, Lubomír, Lubor, Luboslav, Luboš → Luba
- Matěj → Maty, Mates
- Maxmilián → Max
- Michael, Michal → Míša
- Mikuláš → Miky
- Miroslav → Mirek, Mira
- Oldřich → Olda, Olin
- Ondřej → Ondra
- Otakar → Ota
- Pavel → Pája
- Petr → Péťa
- Radoslav, Radimír, Radomil, Radomír, Radek, Radovan → Radek
- Richard → Ríša
- Robert → Rob, Bob, Bert
- Rudolf → Ruda
- Samuel → Sam
- Stanislav → Standa
- Tomáš → Tom
- Václav → Vašek, Venda, Vincek
- Vladimír, Vladislav, Ladislav → Vláďa, Láďa
- Vlastimil, Vlastislav, Vlasta → Vlasta
- Vojtěch → Vojta
- Zdeněk → Zdena, Zdenda
Female
- Adéla → Áďa, Adina
- Alžběta → Bětka, Bety
- Anastázie → Any, Stáza
- Andrea → Andy, Andrejka
- Barbora → Bára
- Dagmar, Dagmara → Dáša
- Daniela → Daninka, Dani, Danča
- Denisa → Deni, Denda, Denča
- Doubravka → Dobra
- Eliška → Eli, Ela
- Františka → Fany
- Gabriela → Gábi, Gabka, Gábina
- Ivana, Iveta → Iva, Ivča
- Jarmila, Jaroslava → Jarka, Jarina
- Jindřiška → Jindra
- Karla, Karolína → Kája, Karol
- Katarína, Kateřina → Katka, Káťa
- Kristýna → Kiki, Týna
- Libuše, Liběna → Liba
- Liliana → Lili
- Ludmila, Lýdie → Lída
- Lucie → Lucy, Lucka
- Magdaléna → Magda, Majda
- Marie, Mariana, Marina, Marika → Maruška, Mája, Majka
- Matylda → Maty, Tylda
- Michaela → Míšenka, Michalka
- Milena, Miluše, Milada, Miloslava → Míla, Milka
- Miroslava → Mirka
- Naděžda → Naďa
- Pavla, Pavlína → Pája
- Petra → Péťa
- Růžena, Rozálie, Rosita → Róza
- Stanislava → Stáňa
- Taťána, Tatiana → Táňa
- Vendula → Vendy
- Zdeňka → Zdena
- Zuzana → Zuzka
- Žofie → Žofka
Danish[edit]
Male one syllable names are sometimes lengthened
- Karl → Kalle
- Lars → Lasse
- Poul → Palle, Pelle, Polle
Female names are sometimes shortened to the last two syllables
- Katrine → Trine
- Kirstine → Stine
- Marie → Rie
- Sofie → Fie
Dutch[edit]
Increasingly, the official form of Dutch given names as registered at birth is one that originally was hypocoristic. For many of the hypocorisms listed below, a diminutive may be used (e.g. Jan → Jantje, Lotte → Lotje), in particular for children and women. The English forms Johnny or Johnnie and Bobby or Bobbie are quite common in the Netherlands.
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English[edit]
English also forms nicknames in a variety of manners.
Shortening, often to the first syllable:
- Abigail → Abby, Abbie, Abi, Gail
- Abraham → Abe
- Adelaide → Addie, Heidi
- Alan, Allan, Allen → Al, Len
- Albert → Al, Bert, Bertie
- Alexander → Al, Alec, Alex, Lex, Sandy, Xander, Sasha
- Alexandra, Alexandria → Alex, Alexa, Lex, Lexa, Lexi, Sandra, Sandy, Xandra
- Alfred → Alf, Alfie, Fred, Freddy
- Alice, Alicia, Alison, Allison → Allie, Aly, Ali, Cya
- Amanda → Amy, Mandy, Manda
- Annalisa, Annelise, Anneliese → Ana, Annie, Lisa
- Andrew → Andy, Drew
- Andrea → Andi, Andie, Drea
- Angela → Angie
- Ann, Anne, Anna → Annie
- Anthony → Tony, Ant
- Antonia → Toni
- Antoinette → Toni, Nettie
- Archibald → Archie, Archy
- Arthur → Art, Arty
- Audrey → Aud, Dre
- August, Augustus, Augustine → Auggie, Gus
- Bartholomew → Bart
- Barbara → Barb, Barbie, Babs
- Benjamin, Benedict → Ben, Benji, Benny
- Bernard → Bernie
- Bradford, Bradley → Brad
- Brian, Bryan → Bri
- Bridget → Bee
- Cameron → Cam
- Caroline, Carolyn → Carol, Lynn, Carrie
- Cassandra → Cass, Cassie, Sandra, Sandy
- Catherine → Cathy
- Charles → Char, Charlie, Chas, Chuck, Chuckles, Chip
- Charlotte → Char, Charlie, Lottie
- Christina, Christine → Chris, Chrissy, Christy, Tina
- Christopher → Chris, Topher
- Clifford → Cliff
- Clinton → Clint
- Colton → Colt
- Cynthia → Cindy
- Daniel, Danielle → Dan, Danny, Dani
- David, Davis, Davidson → Dave, Davy
- Deborah → Deb, Debbie
- Desmond → Des, Dez
- Dominic, Dominique → Dom, Domi
- Donald → Don, Donnie
- Dorothy, Dorothea → Dot, Dottie
- Douglas → Doug
- Dudley → Dud Lee
- Edwin, Edgar, Edwina, Edward, Edmund → Ed, Eddy, Eddie, Ned,[3] Ted, Teddy
- Eleanor → Ellie, Nell,[3] Nellie, Nora
- Elizabeth → Eliza, Elisa, Bess, Bessie, Beth, Betsy, Bette, Bettie, Betty, Libby, Liz, Liza, Lizzie
- Emma, Emanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuelle, Emily → Em, Emmy, Manuel
- Eugene, Eugenie → Gene, Genie
- Ezekiel → Zeke
- Florence → Flo, Florrie, Flossie
- Frances → Fran, Frannie, Frankie
- Francis → Frank
- Franklin → Frank, Frankie
- Frederick → Fred, Freddy, Rick
- Fiona → Fi, Fifi
- Gabriel, Gabrielle, Gabriella → Gab, Gabe, Gabs, Gabby, Gabbie
- Geoffrey → Geoff, Jeff
- Gerald, Jeremy → Gerry, Jerry, Jermo, Jezz
- Gertrude → Gertie, Trudy
- Gilbert → Gil, Bert, Bertie
- Gillian → Jill
- Gregory → Greg
- Gwendolen → Gwen
- Harold → Harry
- Henry → Harry, Hal, Hank
- Hubert → Hugh, Huey, Hubie, Bert, Bertie
- Isaac → Isa, Zac, Izzy
- Isabel, Isabella → Izzy, Bella
- Israel → Izzy
- Jackson → Jack
- Jacob → Jake, Jace
- James → Jamie, Jim, Jimbo, Jimmy
- Jane → Janie, Janet, Jenny
- Janet, Janette, Janice, Janis → Jan
- Jason → Jay, Jase, Jace
- Jeffrey → Jeff
- Jennifer → Jen, Jenn, Jenny
- Jeremiah, Jeremy, Jerome → Jerry, Jezz, Jermo
- Jessica → Jess, Jessie, Jessy, Sica
- Joan, Joanna → Jo, Ann, Anna, Annie
- Jocelyn → Joss
- Jonathan → Jon, Jonny
- Joseph → Joe, Joey, Josey, Seph, Sep
- Josephine → Jo, Josie
- Joshua → Josh
- Judith → Judy
- Katherine, Kathleen → Katie, Kate, Katy, Kath, Kathy, Kat, Kay, Kitty
- Katrina → Kat, Trina
- Kelly → Kel
- Kenneth, Kendrick, Kendall → Ken, Kenny
- Kevin → Kev
- Kristen, Kristin, Kristyn → Kris, Kristy, Krissy, Kitty
- Lawrence, Laurence → Larry, Laurie, Law
- Leonard → Len, Lennie, Lenny, Leo
- Leslie, Lester → Les
- Lewis→ Lew
- Lillian → Lil, Lily
- Louis → Lou, Louie
- Lucille → Lucy, Lulu
- Lucas → Luke
- Lucinda → Cindy, Lucy, Lulu
- Madeleine, Magdalene, Magdalena → Maddie, Magda, Lena
- Margaret, Marjorie → Madge, Maggie, Margie, Marge, Megan, Meg, Meggie, Peg, Peggy, Molly
- Martin → Mart, Marty
- Mary → Molly
- Matthew → Matt, Matty
- Megan → Meg, Peg, Peggy
- Melanie, Melissa, Melody, Melinda → Mel, Linda, Lissa
- Melvin, Melvyn → Mel, Melv
- Michael → Mick, Micky, Mike, Mikey
- Millicent → Millie, Milly
- Mitchell → Mitch
- Morrissey → Moz, More, Morry
- Moses → Moe, Mo
- Nancy → Nan
- Natalie, Nathalie, → Nat
- Nathan, Nathaniel → Nate
- Nicholas → Nick, Nicky
- Nicola, Nicole → Nikki, Nicki, Niki, Nikky
- Norman → Norm
- Oswald → Oz, Ozzie, Ozzy
- Patricia → Pat, Patty, Patsy, Trish, Tricia
- Patrick → Pat, Patty, Paddy
- Penelope → Penny
- Peter → Pete, Petey
- Priscilla → Cilla, Priss, Prisca, Prill
- Prudence → Pru, Prue
- Rachel → Rach, Rachelle
- Randolph → Rand, Randy
- Reginald → Reg, Reggie, Rex
- Rebecca → Becca, Becky, Reba
- Raymond → Ray
- Richard → Dick, Rick, Richie, Rich, Ricky
- Robert → Rob, Bob, Bobby, Robbie, Robin, Bert
- Roberta → Bobbie, Robbie
- Roderick, Rodney → Rod, Roddy
- Roger → Rodge, Hodge
- Ronald → Ron, Ronnie
- Rudolf, Rudolph → Rudy
- Russell → Russ
- Samuel, Samson, Samantha → Sam, Sammy, Sammie
- Sandra → Sandy
- Sarah, Sara → Sadie, Sally
- Sebastian → Seb
- Seymour → Sy
- Sidney, Sydney → Sid, Syd
- Stanley → Stan
- Stephanie → Steph, Fanny, Stephy, Stevie
- Stephen, Steven → Steve, Stevie
- Taylor → Tay
- Terence → Terry
- Thaddeus → Thad, Tad
- Theodore → Theo, Ted, Teddy, Tad
- Theresa, Teresa → Tess, Tessa, Terri, Resa
- Thomas → Tom, Tommy
- Timothy → Tim, Timmy
- Valentine, Valerie → Val
- Veronica → Ronnie, Ronni
- Victor → Vick
- Victoria → Tory, Tori, Vicky
- Vincent → Vince, Vinnie, Vinny
- Viola → Vi
- Virginia → Ginger, Gina, Ginny
- Vivian, Vivien, Vivienne → Viv
- Walter → Wally, Walt
- William → Will, Willie, Bill, Billy, Liam
- Winifred → Winnie
- Zachariah, Zachary → Zach
- Zebadiah, Zebedee → Zeb
Addition of a diminutive suffix, usually -ie or -y, often to an already shortened name. This suffix connotes smallness or endearment. Although most often applied to the names of children, it is not uncommon for an adult to be referred to by the diminutive, especially by family, friends and close acquaintances:
- Agnes → Aggie
- Allison → Allie, Ally
- Alexander, Alexandra → Sandy; Lex → Lexi
- Alfred → Alf → Alfie
- Amanda → Amy, Mandy
- Anne → Annie; Nan → Nancy
- Arthur → Art → Artie
- Andrew → Andy
- Barbara → Barb → Barbie
- Barnaby → Barney
- Benjamin → Ben → Benny
- Charles → Charlie → Chuck → Chucky
- Daniel → Dan → Danny
- David → Dave → Davy
- Deborah → Deb → Debbie
- Dennis → Denny
- Dorothy → Dot → Dottie
- Edwin, Edward, Edmund → Ed → Eddie; Ned → Neddy
- Elaine → Lainie
- Frances → Fran → Franny
- Franklin→ Frank → Frankie
- Gabrielle → Gabs → Gabby
- Gerald→ Jerry
- George → Georgie
- Gillian → Jill → Jilly
- Grace → Gracie
- Herbert → Herb, Bert → Herbie, Bertie
- Isabella → Izzy
- Jack → Jackie, Jacky
- Jacqueline → Jackie
- James → Jamie, Jim →Jimmy
- Jane → Janey
- Jessica → Jess → Jessie
- Joseph → Joe → Joey
- John → Johnny
- Jonathan → Jon → Jonnie, Jonny
- Katherine → Kate → Katie, Katy
- Kimberly → Kim → Kimmy
- Kenneth → Ken → Kenny
- Lawrence → Larry
- Leonard → Len → Lenny
- Lillian → Lil → Lily
- Louis → Lou → Louie
- Mary → Moll → Molly
- Michael → Mick → Micky, Mike → Mikey
- Nell → Nellie, Nelly
- Nicholas → Nick → Nicky
- Oliver → Ollie
- Oswald → Oz → Ozzie
- Patricia → Pat → Patty
- Peter → Pete → Petey
- Priscilla → Cilla → Cilly
- Richard → Rick → Ricky, Dick → Dickey
- Robert → Bob → Bobby, Rob → Robbie
- Ronald → Ron → Ronnie
- Rose → Rosie
- Rosemary → Rose → Rosie
- Sharon → Sher → Sherrie → Sherry
- Stephen → Steve → Stevie
- Susan → Sue → Susie, Suzy
- Thomas → Tom → Tommy
- Timothy → Tim → Timmy
- Tobias → Toby
- Victoria → Tor →Tori, Vick → Vickie, Vicky
- Wallace → Wall → Wally
- William → Will, Bill → Willie, Willy, Billy
- Zebadiah → Zeb → Zebby
A short form that differs significantly from the name:
- Ann, Anne, Anna → Nan (from the phrase "mine Ann", an archaic form of "my Ann")[3]
- Barbara → Babs
- Charles → Chuck, Chaz
- Christopher, Christine → Kit
- Dorothy → Dot, Dottie
- Edward → Ed → Ned,[3] Ted, Teddy
- Eleanor, Ellen, Helen → Nell, Nellie[3]
- Elizabeth → Bess, Bessie, Betsy, Betty
- Helen → Nellie, Nelly
- Henry → Hal, Hank, Harry
- James → Jim → Jimbo, Jimmy
- John → Jack, Jackie, Jock
- Katherine → Katie, Kitty
- Margaret → Meg → Peg, Peggy; Maggie, Marge, Moll, Greta, Rita, Daisy
- Mary → Mae, Minnie, Molly → Polly
- Nicholas → Colin
- Philippa → Pippa, Pip, Pippy
- Richard → Rick, Dick
- Robert → Rob → Bob, Rob → Robin
- Sarah → Sally
- Thaddeus → Thad, Todd, Toddy, Ted, Teddy
- Theodore → Ted, Teddy
- Veronica → Ronnie
- Virginia → Ginger, Ginny
- William → Will, Willy → Bill, Billy
- William Earl → Merle
Also, initials of complex names are often used as the hypocorism, e.g.: Brandon William → B W → B Dub
Esperanto[edit]
Esperanto forms nicknames by suffixing -njo (for females) and -ĉjo (for males) to the first letter(s) of the basic name or word.[4] (This is the only situation in Esperanto in which a word stem is shortened or otherwise changed in word-building.)
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French[edit]
Informal French has a number of diminutive nicknames, although not as systematically as in English.
In French, for both male and female names, hypocorisms are most commonly formed by dropping the last syllable:
- Catherine → Cathy
- Christelle → Chris
- Christophe → Chris
- Frédéric, Frédérique → Fred
- Grégory, Grégoire → Greg
- Jean-Michel → Jean-Mi
- Joannie → Jo
- Marie-Charlotte → Macha
- Marie-Josée → Marie-Jo
- Maxime → Max
- Michaël → Mic
- Philippe → Phil
- Stéphane → Steph
- Stéphanie → Steph
Dropping the first syllable is also attested:
- Christophe → Tophe
Sometimes, only central syllables are kept:
- Augustin → Gus
- Emmanuel → Manu
- Emmanuelle → Manu
Another method commonly used is doubling one syllable of the name:
- André → Dédé
- Annie → Nini
- Augustin → Tintin
- Christine → Kiki, Kikine
- Christophe → Totophe
- Joseph → Jojo
- Julie → Juju
- Louise → Loulou
- all female names ending in -tine → Titine
For male names, the ending -ot is attested, although its use is rather dated:
- Charles → Charlot
- Jean → Jeannot
- Jules → Julot
- Pierre → Pierrot
It was also sometimes (but rarely) used for females:
- Marguerite → Margot
The ending -et for males was used around the Renaissance, and is now obsolete:
- Henri → Henriquet
- Jacques → Jacquet
For female names, the ending -ette was used in the first half of the 20th century, and even often given as the official name:
- Anne → Annette
- Jeanne → Jeannette
- Marie → Mariette
- Paule → Paulette
Some names in -ette are not actual hypocorisms, but the only existing feminized form of a male name:
- Antoine (male) → Antoinette (female)
- Pierre (male) → Pierrette (female)
- Nicolas (male) → Nicolette (female) (rare and dated) → Colette
The ending -on is rarer, often dated or obsolete, used for both genders:
- Antoinette → Toinon
- Françoise → Fanchon
- Henri → Riton
- Marie → Marion
- Louis → Louison
- Louise → Louison
The ending -ou is also rare:
- Anne → Nanou
A special case is the ending in -ick/ -ic, which is the French writing for the hypocoristic form in Breton "-ig", used for both genders. The "-ig" form in Breton means "Little ...". This diminutive, in its French form of "ick" or "ic", became in vogue for official names in the second half of the 20th century:
- Annick (original in Breton: Annaig), from Anne
- Soizic (original: Soazig), from Frañsoaz, the Breton writing for the French "Françoise"
- Loïc, probably from the French Louis
- Yannick (original: Yannig), from Yann, meaning "John" in Breton
In Breton, the diminutive form "...ig" can be given to any kind of names, nouns or adjectives, (un tammig, a few), while in French it relates only to given names.
The name Soazig shows more than the ending "ig". Often in Breton a hypocoristic form of a given name can be made by putting away the first syllable. "Frañsoaz" becomes a familiar "Soaz" then, given to a child, the name is "Soazig", but not as an official name. This is also a difference between French and Breton: the diminutive ending "...ig" in Breton is only used as a temporary form for young children, while "...ick" is official and permanent in French names, and has lost his sense of a diminutive.
For words, French often produces hypocorisms either by truncating a word after the letter o, or by chopping off the end of the word and adding an o: McDo from McDonald's; gynéco from gynécologue; dico from dictionnaire; dodo (childish word for sleep, from dormir, to sleep); écolo from écologiste; coco from communiste; catho from catholique; psycho from psychologie.
The ending -oche (with or without an intervening consonant or phoneme to make it easier to pronounce) is also sometimes used: cinoche (cinéma), MacDoche (McDonald's), fastoche (easy-peezy, from facile, easy). Words or names may also be shortened or abbreviated without an O: fixs from fixations, 'ski bindings'; Jean-Phi from Jean-Philippe; amphi from amphithéatre (large classroom or lecture hall); ciné (another informal word for cinéma). These words are familiar/informal versions of the underlying words.
The connotation of familiarity (my friend Jean-Phi, as opposed to my new colleague Jean-Philippe; cinoche, the place I often go for entertainment, as opposed to cinéma, the neutral word for a movie theater) is what makes them hypocorisms.
German[edit]
Hypocorisms of first names are commonly based on truncation, only keeping the first (Max) or last (Hans) syllable(s), sometimes in contracted form as these examples show. Often the ending -i is added to these truncated nameforms. The name might also undergo a sound shift (Sepp). Further diminutives can be added with the suffixes -lein, -(e)l or -chen, e. g. Gretel or Gretchen as a diminutive for Grete.
- Anna, Anne → Anni, Änni
- Angela, Angelika → Geli, Angie (with an English-leaning pronunciation)
- Anton → Toni
- Elisabeth → Elsa, Elsie, Ilsa, Liesl, Lisbeth, Lissi, Sissi
- Franziska → Franzi, Sissi, Fanni
- Gabriela, Gabriele → Gaby
- Georg → Schorsch (mostly Bavarian and Swiss German)
- Helene → Leni
- Ignatz, Ignaz → Nazi (Bavarian; out of use), Nazl (mostly Bavarian German, still in use)
- Johanna → Hanna
- Johannes → Hannes → Hans → Hansi
- Josef, Joseph → Sepp (Bavarian), Jupp (Rhinelandic), Pepi
- Karl → Kalle, Kalli, Karli
- Katharina → Kathi,
- Margarete → Grete, Gretel, Gretchen
- Maria → Mitzi
- Maximilian → Max
- Michael → Michi, Michl/Michel
- Siegfried, Sigrid → Siggi
- Sabine → Bini, Bine
- Stefanie → Steffi
- Susanne, Susanna, Susann → Susi
- Therese, Theresia → Resi (mostly Bavarian & Austrian)
- Ulrich → Uli (Ueli in Swiss German)
- Wilhelm → Willi
Sometimes female names may have the ending -el instead of -i, or any other shortening, especially in southern Germany:
- Barbara → Babsi → Bärbel
- Ursula → Uschi, Ulla, Ursel
- Christina, Christine → Trina, Trine (northern Germany), Tina, Tine → Christel
An ending for nicknames, sometimes considered “typical German” is -z:
- Friedrich → Fritz (but compare the much softer Fidi from northern Germany)
- Heinrich → Heini, Heinz, Hinz
- Konrad → Kunz
Hungarian[edit]
Hypocorisms of first names are commonly based on truncation, only keeping the first (Kat-; Jul-) syllable, sometimes in contracted form as these examples show. Often the ending -i is added to these truncated nameforms (Kati, Laci, Julcsi, Ági, Feri). Further diminutives can be added with the suffixes -ka, -ke, -kó, -csi, etc., e. g. Lacika, Ferike, Palkó and Julcsi as a diminutive respectively for László, Ferenc, Pál and Júlia.
- Anna (Anne) → Ani(ka), Annácska, Anci(ka), Annus(ka), Panni(ka), Panna, Panka, Nusi(ka)
- György (George) → Gyur(i)(ka)
- István (Steven) → (P)isti(ke), Istvánka, Pityu(ka)
- János (John) → Jan(cs)i(ka), Jankó(ka)
- József (Joseph) → Józsi(ka), Jocó(ka), Jozsó(ka), Joci(ka)
- Károly (Charles) → Karcsi(ka), Karesz(ka), Károlyka
- Margit (Margaret) → Manyi(ka), Manci(ka), Margó(ka), Gitta
- Mária (Mary) → Mar(cs)i(ka), Máriácska, Mári(ka), Mara, Marácska, Manci(ka), Ria, Riácska
- Terézia (Theresa) → Trézsi(ke), Terka, Teri(ke), Terézke, Terus(ka), Teréziácska
- Vilmos (William) → Vili(ke), Vilmos(ka)
- Zsuzsa (Susan) → Zsuzsi(ka), Zsuzska, Zsu
Icelandic[edit]
Hypocorisms usually consist of the first syllable of the name with a diminutive suffix ending in -i (masculine) or -a or ý (feminine). There are however some exceptions, for example Nonni which is an alternative from for Jón.
- Guðmundur → Gummi, Gvendur
- Jón → Jónsi, Nonni
- Magnús → Maggi
- Sigfús → Fúsi
- Sigurður → Siggi
- Þorbjörg → Tobba
- Guðrún → Gunna
- Sigríður → Sirrý
- Guðríður → Gurrý
Japanese[edit]
In Japan, diminutive names are made by adding an honorific suffix to a person's name, or to part of the name. The suffix -chan is typically added to a girl's name as a term of endearment. The suffix -kun is added to a male's name. Outside of family, the suffix -kun typically implies a relationship between an authority (the caller) and a subordinate. Thus, it is often used by teachers calling on male students, and a boss or supervisor calling on male employees.
The term -chan is occasionally added to the name of an effeminate boy or man. While the addition of -chan to a girl's name is endearment and intimacy, when applied to a male's name, it may be either a term of endearment or it may be added as a derogatory taunt, depending on the context and the nature of the relationship.
- Female names
- Ayaka → Ayaka-chan → Aya-chan
- Mako → Mako-chan → Ma-chan or Macchan
- Mao → Ma-chan
- Reina → Reina-chan → Rei-chan
- Male names
- Keita → Keita-kun
- Kentaro → Kentaro-kun → Kenta-kun
- Taro → Taro-kun → Takkun
- Tatsuya → Tatsuya-kun → Tatsu-kun
Nepali[edit]
Here are some examples of Nepali nicknames.
- राम Rām → रामे Rāmē
- पार्वती Pārvatī → पारु Pāru
- बिष्णु/बिस्नु Bishnu/Bisnu → बिस्ने Bishnē
- रुक्मणी Rukmanī → रुकु Ruku
Persian[edit]
In Persian some of the most used personal names have hypocorisms. Many of these hypocorisms are formed by truncating the name and adding an -i to the end, or by using just a part of a composed name.
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Polish[edit]
In Polish, there are multiple affixes used to create the diminutive. Some of them are -ka, -sia, -cia, -unia, -enka, -śka, -lka for feminine nouns and -ek, -uś, -ciek, -czek, -uń, -eńki, -lki for masculine (among others). Some of the stems change, particularly to more archaic forms of the name (e.g. Andrzej → Jędrek or Agnieszka → Jagusia). Some masculine names take an -o suffix that is considered archaic form, present in Polish since pagan times. Masculine names occasionally take an -a suffix, which is an archaic Slavic form[citation needed] as in Russian (e.g. Jakub → Kuba). Here is a list of common names with some of them:
- Adam → Adaś
- Agnieszka → Aga, Agniesia, Agusia, Agunia, Jagusia
- Aleksandra → Ola, Oleńka, Oleczka, Olusia, Olka, Olcia
- Aleksander → Olek, Alek, Aleks, Oluś, Oleczek, Oleniek
- Andrzej → Andrzejek, Jędrek, Jędruś, Jędrulek
- Anna → Ania, Anka, Anusia, Aneczka, Andzia, Anulka, Anuśka
- Antoni → Antek, Antoś, Antosiek, Tosiek, Tońcio, Toni
- Antonina → Antonia, Antońcia, Antonieczka, Tosia, Tola, Tośka
- Arkadiusz → Arek, Aruś, Areczek
- Barbara → Basia, Baśka, Basieńka, Basieczka, Basiulka, Basiuńka, Basiunia
- Bartłomiej → Bartek, Bartuś, Barteczek
- Bartosz → Bartek, Bartuś, Barteczek
- Dariusz → Darek, Daruś, Dareczek
- Edward → Edek, Edzio, Edzik, Eduś
- Elżbieta → Ela, Elżunia, Elunia, Elżunieczka
- Emilia → Emilka, Emilusia, Emileczka, Emilunia
- Eugeniusz → Genek, Gienek, Genio
- Ewa → Ewka, Ewusia, Ewcia, Ewunia
- Ewelina → Ewcia, Ewelinka, Ewuńka, Ewusia, Ewunia
- Felicja → Fela, Felka, Felcia, Felisia
- Gabriel → Gabryś, Gabrynio
- Genowefa → Gienia, Gienka
- Grzegorz → Grzesiek, Grześ, Grzesio
- Hanna → Hania, Hanka, Haneczka
- Helena → Helenka, Helenia, Helenieczka, Helka
- Halina → Halinka, Halka, Haleczka
- Henryka → Henia, Heńka, Henieczka, Heniusia
- Henryk → Henio, Heniek, Henieczek, Henryczek
- Iwona → Iwonka, Iwunia, Iwonia Iwoneczka
- Irena → Irka, Irusia, Ireczka, Irulka, Irutka
- Jadwiga → Jadzia, Jagoda, Jadwisia, Jadźwinia, Jagna, Jagusia, Jagienka, Jadziulka, Jadziunia
- Jakub → Kuba, Kubuś, Kubeczek, Jakubek, Jakubeczek
- Jarosław → Jarek, Jaruś, Jareczek
- Jan → Jaś, Janek, Jasiek, Jasieczek, Jasiulek
- Janusz → Januszek, Januszeczek
- Jerzy → Jurek, Jerzyk, Juruś, Jureczek
- Jędrzej → Jędrzejek, Jędruś, Jędrulek
- Joanna → Joasia, Asia, Aśka, Joaśka, Joasieńka, Joasieczka,
- Julia → Julka, Julcia, Jula, Juleczka
- Karolina → Karolinka, Karolcia, Karolińcia, Karolineczka
- Karol → Karolek, Karoleczek, Karoleniek
- Katarzyna → Kasia, Kaśka, Kasieńka, Kasiunia, Kasiunieczka, Kasiulek, Kasiuleczek
- Kazimierz → Kazek, Kazio, Kazik, Kaziulek
- Krzysztof → Krzysiek, Krzysieczek, Krzysieniek, Krzyś, Krzysio, Krzychu, Krzycho
- Lech → Leszek, Lechu, Lesio (Leszek may also appear as a given name)
- Leszek → Lech, Lechu, Lesio
- Maciej → Maciek, Maciuś, Maćko, Maciejek, Maciejeczek
- Magdalena → Madzia, Magdalenka, Magdzia, Magdusia, Magda, Magdzieńka
- Małgorzata → Małgosia, Małgośka, Gośka, Gosia, Gosieńka, Małgocha
- Maria → Marysia, Maryśka, Mania, Marysieńka, Marysieczka, Marycha, Majka, Majeczka
- Marek → Maruś, Mareczek, Marko
- Michał → Michaś, Michałek, Misiek
- Mirosław → Mirek, Mireczek, Mirko, Miruś
- Paweł → Pawełek, Pawcio
- Piotr → Piotrek, Piotruś
- Roman → Romek, Romeczek, Romuś
- Ryszard → Rysiek, Rysio, Ryniek
- Sławomir → Sławek, Sławuś
- Tadeusz → Tadek, Tadzio, Tadzik, Tadziu
- Tomasz → Tomek, Tomuś, Tomcio, Tomaszek, Tomeczek
- Urszula → Ula, Ulka, Urszulka, Uleczka, Usia, Uleńka
- Władysław → Władek, Władzio, Władzik
- Włodzimierz → Włodek, Włodzik
- Witold → Witek, Wituś
- Wojciech → Wojtek, Wojtuś, Wojteczek
- Zofia → Zosia, Zośka, Zocha
- Zbigniew → Zbyszek, Zbyszko, Zbychu, Zbycho, Zbyś
Portuguese[edit]
In Portuguese, abbreviations of the name are common, as are suffixes for diminutive and augmentative. For males, the suffixes -inho (diminutive) and -ão (augmentative) are the most used. In several parts of Brazil, -inho is informally replaced by -im in diminutive words. The same occurs with hypocorisms as, for example, Luisim instead of Luisinho. For females, -inha (diminutive) is the most used in Portuguese; augmentatives are uncommon. In compound names some mixed forms can occur, such as José Carlos being called Zeca, or Maria Luísa being called Malu.
The phenomenon also occurs with terms of address other than personal names; for example, a cachorro or cão (both meaning "dog") can be affectionately called cachorrinho or cãozinho (the most common translations of the English word puppy).
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Male examples
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Female examples
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Romanian[edit]
- Adrian → Adi
- Alexandru → Ale, Alex, Alecu, Sandu
- Ana → Anița, Anica
- Anton → Toni
- Andreea → Deea
- Bogdan → Bog, Bogdi, Bogdă, Bogă
- Cătălin(a) → Cătă
- Claudiu → Claudel, Clau, Diu, Diuţu
- Constantin → Costică, Costel, Titi, Dinu
- Cristian → Cristi
- Daniel → Dan, Dani, Dănuţ
- Dorina → Dori, Dana
- Dumitru → Mitică
- Elena → Ema, Lena, Lenuţa
- Eugen → Jenică; Eugenia → Jeni
- Fernanda → Anda
- Florentina → Ina, Flori
- Gabriel → Gabi
- Georgeta → Geta
- Georgina → Gina
- Gheorghe → Georgică, Gică, Gigi, Guţă, Ghio
- Horaţiu → Hori
- Ileana → Nuţi
- Ion, Ioan → Ionel, Ionuţ, Nelu, Neluțu, Nuțu
- Marilena → Mari
- Maria → Mărioara, Mioara
- Mihai → Mișu, Mihăiță, Miță
- Mihaela → Mela, Ela, Eluța, Mica
- Monica → Moni
- Nicolae → Nicu, Nicuşor, Nae, Niki
- Octavian → Tavi
- Ovidiu → Ovi
- Petre → Petrică, Petruţ, Petrişor
- Raluca → Ralu, Uca
- Ştefan → Fane, Fănel, Fănică, Ştefănel
- Teodor → Teo
- Valentin → Vali
- Vasile → Lică, Vasilică, Sile
- Viorel → Relu
- Victoria → Victorița, Vica
- Vlad → Vlăduţ, Duțu
Russian[edit]
Russian has a wide variety of diminutive forms for names, to the point that for non-Russian speakers it can be difficult to connect a nickname to the original. Diminutive forms for nouns are usually distinguished with -ик (-ik), -ок (-ok), -ёк (-yok) (masculine gender), -чк-/-шк- (-chk-/-shk-) and -оньк-/-еньк- (-on’k-/-en’k-) suffixes. Names can be somewhat more arbitrary, but still follow a loose pattern. A list of common names and their diminutive forms:
- Aleksey → Alyosha, Alyoshen'ka, Alyoshka, Lyosha, Lyoshka, Lyoha
- Aleksandr, Aleksandra → Sasha, Sashen'ka, Sashechka, Sashka, Sanya, San'ka, Shura, Shurka, Shurik, Shurochka
- Alyona → Alyonka, Alyonooshka
- Anastasiya → Nastas'ya, Nastya, Nasten'ka, Nastyushka, Nastyona, Nast'ka, Natasha, Asya, Stasya
- Anatoly → Tolik, Tolya, Tolyushka, Tolechka, Tolchik
- Andrey → Andryusha, Andryukha, Dyusha, Dyukha, Andron, Dron
- Anna → Anya, Anyuta, Anyutka, Anechka, Annushka, Nyuta, Nyura, Nyurka, Nyusha
- Artyom → Tyoma, Tyomych
- Avdotya → Dunya, Dunyasha
- Boris → Borya, Boren'ka, Boryusha, Bor'ka
- Dmitry → Dima, Dimas, Dimka, Dimochka, Dimulia, Dimon, Dimych, Mitya, Miten'ka, Mitёnka, Mityusha, Mit'ka
- Eduard → Edik, Edichka, Ed'ka, Edya, Edyun
- Elena → Lena, Lenka, Lenochka, Lenochek, Lenok, Elenchyk, Lenyusya
- Galina → Galya, Galka, Galechka
- Gennady → Gena, Gesha, Genka, Genych, Genchik, Genochka
- Georgiy → Zhora, Gosha, Goga
- Gleb → Gleba, Glebochka, Glebka
- Grigoriy → Grisha, Grinya, Grikha
- Igor → Igoryok, Igoryochek, Gosha, Garik
- Irina → Ira, Irochka, Irunya, Irisha, Irishka, Irka, Irinka, Irusya
- Ivan → Vanya, Ivanushka, Vanechka, Van'ka, Vanyusha
- Kirill → Kiryusha, Kirya
- Konstantin → Kostya, Kosten'ka, Kostik, Kost'ka, Kotya, Koka
- Kseniya, Oksana → Oksanka, Ksana, Sana, Ksyuha, Ksyusha
- Larisa → Lora, Lorka, Larochka
- Leonid → Lyonya, Lyonechka, Lyon'ka, Lyonchik
- Lev → Lyova, Lyovochka, Lyovka
- Lyudmila → Lyuda, Lyusya, Mila
- Lyubov → Luba, Lyuba, Lyubochka
- Margarita (given name) → Rita, Ritka, Ritusya, Ritunya, Ritik
- Mariya → Masha, Manya, Man'ka, Manyunya, Mashen'ka, Mashechka, Mashka, Marushka, Marusya, Makha
- Mikhail → Misha, Mishen'ka, Mischechka, Mishanya, Mishka, Mishutka, Mikha
- Nadezhda → Nadya, Nad'ka, Naden'ka, Nadyusha
- Nataliya → Natasha, Nata, Natashen'ka, Natakha, Natusyen'ka, Natusik, Natashka
- Nikolay → Kolya, Kolen'ka, Kolyunya, Nikolen'ka, Nikolasha, Kol'ka, Kolyan
- Oleg → Olezhka, Olezha, Olezhek, Olegushka, Lega, Lyoka
- Olga → Olya, Olen'ka, Olechka
- Pavel → Pasha, Pashka, Pashen'ka, Pavlik, Pakha, Pakhan, Pavlusha, Poshik
- Pyotr → Petya, Pet'ka, Peten'ka, Petrusha, Petruha, Petyunya
- Radimir → Radya, Mira
- Roman → Roma, Romka, Romochka, Romych
- Sergey → Seryozha, Seryoga, Seryozhen'ka, Seryozhka, Seriy, Sega
- Stepan → Styopa, Styopan'ka, Stepan'chik, Styopushka, Styopka
- Stanislav→ Stasya, Stas, Stasik, Stasen'ka
- Sofiya → Sonya, Sonechka, Sofa, Sofochka
- Svetlana → Sveta, Svetochka, Svetyushka, Svetka
- Svyatoslav, Vyacheslav → Slava, Slavik, Slavochka
- Taisiya → Tasya, Taya
- Tatyana → Tanya, Tanechka, Tanyusha, Tan'ushka, Tan'ka, Tan'chik, Tata, Tatochka
- Vadim → Vadik, Vadimka, Vadya, Vadisha, Vadyusha
- Valeriy → Valera, Valerka, Valerik
- Valeria → Lera, Lerusha, Lerka, Valera
- Varvara → Varya, Var'ka, Varyechka
- Vasiliy → Vasya, Vasyok, Vasen'ka, Vasilyok
- Viacheslav → Slava, Slavik, Vyachik, Slavyan, Slavutich
- Viktor → Vitya, Viten'ka, Vit'ka, Vityok, Vityay
- Vitaly → Vitalik, Vitalya
- Viktoriya → Vika, Vita, Vikulechka, Vikusik
- Vladimir → Volodya, Volod'ka, Voloden'ka, Vova, Vovka, Vovochka, Vovan
- Vladislav → Vlad, Vladik, Vladyusha, Vladya, Slava, Slavik
- Yaroslav → Yarik, Yaroshka, Slava, Slavik, Slavochka
- Yefim → Fima, Fimochka
- Yekaterina → Katerina, Katya, Katechka, Katen'ka, Katinka, Katyukha, Katyusha, Kat'ka
- Yevgeny → Zhenya, Zhen'ka, Zheka, Zhenyok, Zhenechka
- Yevgenia → Zhenya, Zhenechka, Zhen'ka
- Yuriy → Yura, Yurka, Yurik, Yurok
Some names can also be modified with a -ka ending to add a further level of familiarity, but are not normally used for adults who are not family members.
Scottish Gaelic[edit]
In traditional Scottish Gaelic names, the most common diminutives involve -an for male names and -ag or -aid for female names.
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Male examples
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Female examples
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Serbian[edit]
- Aleksandar → Aca, Aco, Sale, Saša, Aleks, Aleksa
- Aleksandra → Sandra, Sanja, Saša, Saška, Aleks, Aleksić, Aleksinka, Aleksica, Acika
- Ana → Anica, Anka, Anči, Anuška
- Anđelka, Anđelija → Anđa
- Arsenije, Arsen → Arsa, Arso
- Biljana → Bilja, Biki
- Blagoje → Blaža, Blažo, Blago, Blagi
- Bogdan, Bogoljub, Bogoje → Bogi, Boša, Boća, Boki, Bogo, Bole
- Bojan → Boki, Bole
- Borislav, Boriša, Borivoje → Bora, Boro
- Bosiljka → Bosa, Boska
- Božidar → Boža, Božo, Boško, Bole, Boki
- Branislav, Branimir, Branko → Bane, Brana, Brano, Brane
- Branislava, Branka → Brana
- Budimir → Buda, Budo
- Čedomir → Čeda, Čedo
- Danica → Dana, Danka, Danjuška
- Danilo, Danko → Dača, Dačo
- Darko → Dare, Darun
- Dejan → Deki, Dejo, Deks
- Desanka → Desa
- Dimitrije → Mita, Mito, Mitar
- Dragana → Gaga
- Dragan → Gaga, Gagi
- Dragica, Dragojla → Draga
- Dragiša → Dragi, Gidra, Giša
- Dragoljub, Dragoslav, Dragomir → Draža, Drakče, Dragi, Gidra, Gagi
- Dražen → Draža, Dražo, Žodra, Drale
- Dušan → Duško, Dule, Duki, Duda, Duks, Duća
- Đorđe, Đorđije → Đoka, Đoko, Đole
- Đurađ, Đurđe → Đura, Đuro
- Filip → Fića, Fićo
- Goran → Goksi, Goša, Gogi
- Gordana → Goga, Goca
- Ivan, Ivica → Ivke, Ivo, Ivko, Ića, Ićo, Išlo, Ivek
- Ivana, Ivanka → Iva, Ivka, Ika
- Katarina → Kaća, Kata, Kale, Keti, Ket
- Kosta, Konstantin → Kole, Koča
- Lena → Lenče, Lenka
- Ljiljana → Ljilja
- Ljubomir, Ljubiša, Ljubisav, Ljubodrag → Ljuba, Ljubo
- Jasna, Jadranka → Jaca
- Jelena, Jelica → Jela, Jeca, Jecika
- Jovan, Jovica → Jova, Jovo, Joca, Jole
- Jovana, Jovanka → Joka, Joksi, Joksimović, Joksimka, Joksica, Jocika, Jokica, Joca
- Lazar → Laza, Lazo, Laki
- Leposava, Lepava → Lepa
- Maksim, Maksimilijan → Maks, Maksa, Makso
- Marija, Marica, Marijana → Mara, Maša, Maca, Maki
- Marko → Mare
- Milan, Miloš, Mihailo, Mihajlo, Miljan, Milovan, Miodrag, Milivoje, Milorad, Milutin, Milun, Milenko, Milojko, Milisav, Milomir, Miomir, Milić → Miško, Miša, Mišo, Šomi, Mićko, Mića, Mićo, Ćomi, Mile, Milo, Mija, Mijo
- Milena, Milica, Milijana, Milka → Mica, Mila
- Mirjana, Miroslava → Mira, Mirka
- Miroslav, Miroje → Mika, Miki, Miro, Mirko
- Mladen, Mlađan → Mlađa, Mlađo, Đomla
- Momčilo, Momir → Moma, Momo
- Nadežda, Nadica → Nada
- Nataša, Natalija → Nata
- Nebojša → Neša, Nešo, Šone, Nebo
- Nemanja, Nenad → Neša, Neca, Nešo, Šone, Nele, Neno
- Nikola → Nidža, Nidžo, Džoni, Nino
- Ninoslav, Nino → Nindža
- Nikolina, Nikoleta, Ninoslava → Nina
- Ognjen → Ogi
- Pantelija → Panta, Panto
- Pavle → Paja, Pajo
- Petar, Perica → Pera, Pero
- Predrag → Peđa, Preša, Predo
- Radmila, Radojka → Rada, Rajka
- Radomir, Radoslav, Radislav, Radisav, Radiša, Radoš, Radašin, Radovan, Radoje, Radojica, Radivoje, Radenko → Rade, Raša, Rašo, Rajko
- Ratimir, Ratibor, Ratko → Rato
- Ružica → Ruža, Ruška
- Sandra, Sanja → Saki, Sakić, Sakinka, Sakica
- Slađana → Slađa, Đosla
- Slavoljub, Slavomir, Slaviša, Slaven → Slavko, Slave
- Slobodan → Sloba, Slobo, Boba, Bodo
- Snežana, Snježana → Sneža, Snježa, Sneška, Sneki
- Srboljub, Srbislav → Srba, Srbo
- Sreten → Sreta, Srele
- Srđan → Srđa, Srđo, Srle, Srki
- Stanislav, Stanimir, Stanoje, Stanko → Stane
- Stevan, Stevica, Stefan → Steva, Stevo
- Svetislav, Svetozar, Svetomir, Svetolik → Sveta, Sveto
- Svetlana, Svjetlana → Ceca, Seka
- Tanasije → Tasa, Taško
- Tatjana, Tamara → Tanja, Tami, Taca, Taša
- Tihomir → Tika, Tiho
- Todor → Toša
- Tomislav → Toma, Tomo, Tole
- Uroš → Urke
- Vasilije, Vasilj → Vasa, Vaso, Vasko
- Velibor → Bora, Boro, Velja, Veljo
- Velimir, Veljko → Velja, Veljo, Veki
- Veroljub, Veroslav → Verko
- Veselin → Vesa, Veso, Vesko
- Vesna → Veca, Veki
- Violeta → Viki
- Vitomir → Vita, Vito
- Vladimir, Vladan → Vlada, Vlado, Vlatko
- Vlastimir → Vlasta
- Vojislav, Vojin → Voja, Vojo
- Vuk, Vukašin, Vukan → Vule, Vučko, Vučina, Vukša, Vuksa, Vuki
- Zvonimir → Zvonko
- Zoran → Zoki, Kiza, Zoksi
- Zorica, Zorana → Zoka
- Želimir → Željko
- Živorad, Žikica, Živojin, Živko → Žika, Žile
Sinhala[edit]
- Kasun →Kassa
- Madushanka, Madhuranga, Madhumaali →Madhu
- Ravindra, Ravinaatha →Ravi
- Tharindu →Thariya
- Amandhi →Amaa
- Dushmantha, Dushan →Dush
- Aravindha →Araa
- Arjuna →Arju
- Kaluwithaarana →Kalu
- Chamindha, Chaamikara →Chami
Slovak[edit]
In Slovak, feminine diminutives usually end in -ka and masculine in -ko.
- Alexandra → Saša, Saška
- Mária → Marika, Majka
- Jakub → Jakubko, Kubo, Kubko
- Jozef → Jožo, Jožko
- Kristína → Kika, Kristínka
- Martin, Matej → Maťo, Maťko
- Matúš → Matúško
- Natália → Natálka
- Rastislav → Rasťo, Rastík
- Stanislav → Stano, Stanko
- Štefán → Pišta, Števko
Slovene[edit]
In Slovene, diminutives are very common. In many cases they have almost completely replaced their originals (such is the case of Špela for Elizabeta, Branko for Branislav, or Alenka, Majda, and Magda for Magdalena). Especially among female names, the etymological link of the diminutive with the original name has been lost and the diminutive is perceived by most speakers to be a separate name (such is the case for Mojca, deriving from Marija, or Maja and Alenka deriving from Magdalena). In other cases, especially among male names, this link has been kept, but frequently boys are given diminutives as their given names (such as Miha instead of Mihael, Ivo instead of Ivan, or Nejc instead of Jernej etc.)
- Albert → Bert, Berti, Berto
- Aleksander → Sandi, Saša, Sašo, Aleks, Sanja
- Aleksandra → Sandra, Saša
- Aleksej → Aleš, Aleks
- Alojzij, Alojz → Lojze, Lojz
- Amalija → Malija, Malči
- Ana → Anica, Anka, Ančka, Anita, Anja
- Andrej → Drejc, Drejko
- Angela → Angelca, Angelika
- Anton → Tone, Toni (regional)
- Antonija → Tončka
- Avguštin → Gušti, Guštin (regional)
- Benjamin → Beno
- Bogoslav → Bogo
- Božidar → Božo, Boško
- Branislav → Branko
- Cecilija → Cilija, Cilka
- Dana → Danica
- Dimitrij → Mitja, Mito
- Edvard → Edo, Edi
- Egidij → Tilen, Ilj, Tilj, Tiljan (regional), Tiljo (regional)
- Elizabeta → Špela, Beti, Betka
- Ferdinand → Ferdo
- Filip → Lipe
- France, Franc, Frančišek → Fran, Frane, Franci, Franček, Franek (regional), Feri (regional)
- Frančiška → Francka
- Gregor, Gregorij → Grega
- Helena → Alenka, Lenka
- Henrik → Hinko, Hari, Henko, Riko, Riki
- Ignacij, Ignac → Nace
- Ivan → Ivo, Vane, Vanko
- Ivana → Ivanka, Vanka
- Jakob → Jaka
- Janez → Janko, Jani, Jan, Anže, Anžej, Anzej (regional)
- Jernej → Nejc, Nejo
- Jožef, Josip → Jože, Joško, Pepi (regional), Juš
- Jožefa → Pepca, Jožica
- Jurij → Jure, Juro (regional)
- Karel → Karlo, Karol, Čarli
- Katarina → Katja, Katra
- Leopold → Polde
- Lucija → Lučka
- Magdalena → Maja, Alenka, Majda, Magda
- Margareta → Meta, Metka
- Marija → Mojca, Mara, Marica, Marina, Mojcej (regional)
- Martin → Tine
- Martina → Tina
- Matej, Matjaž → Matija, Matic, Tjaž
- Mihael → Miha
- Nikolaj → Niko, Nik, Miki (regional)
- Pavel → Pavle
- Peter → Pero
- Rudolf → Rudi
- Sebastijan, Sebastjan → Boštjan
- Stanislav → Stanko, Slavko
- Stanislava → Slavka
- Štefanija → Štefka
- Terezija → Zinka
- Urša → Urška
- Valentin → Tine
- Valentina → Tina
- Vincenc → Cene, Vinko
Spanish[edit]
Spanish forms diminutives by adding one of several diminutive suffixes: -ito/a, -cito/a, -ecito/a, -ico/a, -cico/a -illo/a, -cillo/a, -uelo/a, -zuelo/a, -ete/a, -ín, -iño/a:
- Juana → Juanita
- Jorge → Jorgito
- Antonio → Antoñín, Antoñito, Antoñete, Antoñillo, Toño, Toñito
It is common for a person to be known by 2 first names: José Luis, María Teresa, Juan Carlos, etc. Combining the 2 names into one is another common way to form a hypocorism:
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Many Spanish nicknames, however, are or can seem very unlike the original name. Notice, however, that the -ch- [tʃ] sound is common in these diminutives:
- Alberto → Berto, Beto
- Alfonso → Fon, Fonso, Fonsi, Poncho, Foncho
- Alicia → Licha
- Anastasio → Tasio, Tacho
- Aniceto → Cheto
- Antonio → Toño, Toni, Antón
- Beatriz → Bea, Beti
- Bruna → Bru
- Carlos → Carlitos, Carloncho
- Concepción → Concha, Conchita, Conchi
- Consuelo → Chelo, Consu
- Diego → Yago
- Dolores → Lola, Lolita, Loló
- Eduardo → Edu, Edy, Lalo
- Enrique → Quique, Rico
- Ernesto → Tito
- Feliciano → Chano
- Felipe → Feli, Pipe
- Federico → Fede, Quico, Kiko
- Fernanda → Fer, Nanda, Feña
- Fernando → Fer, Fernan, Nando, Fercho, Feña
- Francisco → Paco, Curro, Pancho, Pacho, Pacheco, Quico, Francis, Fran, Frasco
- Graciela → Chela, Gra
- Guadalupe → Lupe, Lupita
- Guillermo → Guille, Guillo, Memo, Picho, Willy
- Ignacia → Nacha
- Ignacio → Nacho, Igna
- Inmaculada → Inma, Macu
- Isabel → Isa, Chavela, Chabela, Chábel, Chava, Chabe
- Jesús → Chuy, Chus, Chucho, Suso, Jesusín
- Jorge → Coque, Coco
- José → Pepe, Chepe, Jose
- José María → Chema, Josema
- Juan → Juancho, Juani
- Laura → Lala, Lau, Yaya
- Leonardo → Leo
- Lidia → Yiya
- Lorenzo → Lencho
- Lucero → Lucha
- Luis → Lucho, Güicho, Luchín
- Luisa → Lucha
- Manuel → Manu, Manolo, Lolo
- Marcelo → Marce, Chelo
- María Fernanda → Máfer, Marifer
- María José → Coté, Marijose, Majo
- Marisela → Chabela, Chela
- Maruja → Cuca, Maru
- Maximina → Chimina
- Mercedes → Meche, Merci
- Miguel → Migue, Miguelo
- Nicolás → Nico
- Oswaldo → Ozzie, Waldo, Valdo
- Patricio → Pato
- Ramón → Moncho, Monchi, Ramoncito
- Refugio, María del Refugio → Cuca
- Renato → Rena
- Roberto → Rober, Berto, Beto, Tito
- Rodrigo → Rodri, Yoyo
- Rosario → Chayo, Charo
- Rosillo → Chillo
- Santiago → Santi, Chago
- Sergio → Checo, Checho
- Silvia → Chiva
- Socorro → Coco
- Soledad → Sole, Lola, Sol
- Susana → Susi, Su
- Tomás → Tommy, Tomi, Tom, Tomo
- Vicente → Vicen, Chente
Also, several names (especially female) may have their endings cut off and the vowel -"i" added at the end in the formation of pet names:
- Beatriz → Beti
- Javier → Javi (m.), Javy
- Leticia → Leti
- Pilar, María del Pilar → Pili
- Susana → Susi
- Yolanda → Yoli
Speakers of Philippine languages follow the same system.
Swedish[edit]
Male hypocorisms are often based on the first syllable of the name (shortening it if it is long), plus the ending -e. Hypocorisms are almost always two-syllabic with a grave accent.
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These forms may be quite old: the oldest possible attestation may be the name Sibbi on the Rök Runestone dating to about 800 AD.
Like male hypocorisms, female hypocorisms tend to be bisyllabic:
- Caroline → Carro, Line
- Charlotta → Lotta
- Katarina → Kattis, Katta
- Kristina → Stina, Tina
- Magdalena → Malena, Lena
- Maria → Mia
- Susanna → Sussi, Sanna
Turkish[edit]
- Abdullah → Apo
- Fatma → Fatoş
- Hasan → Haso
- Hatice → Hatçe
- İbrahim → İbo
- Mehmet → Memo
- Süleyman → Sülo
- Muzaffer → Muzo
Welsh[edit]
- Bronwen → Bron
- Catrin → Cadi
- David → Dai, Dewi
- Elen → Nel, Neli
- Elisabeth → Bethan, Beth, Lisa, Leusa
- Esther → Nesta
- Geraint → Ger
- Huw → Huwcyn
- Ioan → Jac
- Iorwerth → Iori
- Myfanwy → Myfi
- Richard → Dic
- Siôn → Siôni
- Tomos → Tomi, Twm
Yiddish (and contemporary Hebrew)[edit]
As rule of thumb, adding the "suffix" 'le, 'ale, 'ele or sometimes simply an "L" to the name makes it diminutive and endearing, for both female and male names. It is also in common practice in Hebrew, mostly by Ashkenazi Jewish people. In most cases, as the names would be spelled using the Hebrew alphabet, an apostrophe would separate the name from the suffix.
- חיה Chaya → חיה'לה Chayale, Chaya'le
- משה Moyshe → משה'לה Moyshele, Moyshe'le
- דוד David → דוד'לה Davidle, David'le, דוד'ל Davidl
- רינה Rina → רינה'לה Rinale, Rina'le
- זלדה Zelda → זלדה'לה Zeldale, Zelda'le
- דב Dov → דב'לה Dovale, Dov'ale
It can also work with names which are not predominantly Jewish, for example:
- Craig → Craigele, Craigale
- Gerda → Gerdale
Another suffix used by Yiddish and Hebrew speakers could be 'ke, 'ka and also "inka"/"yinka":
- דוד David → דוד'קה Davidke, David'ke
- טל Tal → טלינקה Talinka
- צבי Zvi → צביקה Zvika
Other diminutive and endearing suffixes in common use by Yiddish and Hebrew speakers are "ush", "chook" and "inyu":
- רבקה Rivka → רבקוש Rivkush
- גיא Guy → גיאוש Guyush
- דן Dan → דנצ'וק Danchook
- חן Chen → חנצ'וק Chenchook
- בר Bar → בריניו Barinyu
With single syllable names a form of endearment exists where the name is repeated twice consecutively, or with longer names, the last syllable might be repeated, for example:
- גיא Guy → גיאגיא Guyguy
- דן Dan → דןדן Dandan
- טל Tal → טלטל Taltal
- רון Ron → רונרון Ronron
- נטלי Natalie → נטלילי Natalilie
Many names have their own versions of nicknames specifically for them which are common in Yiddish, or in contemporary Hebrew:
- רפאל Refael → רפי Rafi
- יוסף Yosef → ספי Sefi
- אברהם Avraham → אבי Avi
- אליהו Eliyahu → אלי Eli (The same goes to most names that has the prefix of Eli, like Elimelech, Eliezer, Elisha, etc.)
- רבקה Rivka → ריבי Rivi , ריקה Rika , ריקי Riki
- שמואל Shmuel → שמוליק Shmulik , מולי Muli
- משה Moshe → מויש Moysh , מוש Mosh , מושון Mushon
- בנימין Binyamin → בני Beni
- דוד David → דודו Dudu
- יחזקאל Yehezkel → חזי Hezi
- חנה Chana → חני Chani
- יצחק Yitzhak → איציק Itzik
- ישראל Israel → שרול Srool, שרוליק Sroolik
- בלהה Bilha → בילי Bili
- גאולה Geula → גולי Guli
Yoruba[edit]
Many Yoruba names are complex and normally can be shortened into many small simple phrases. Many Yoruba names have the common roots of Ade, meaning Crown, Olu, meaning Lord, Ola, meaning Wealth, Ifa, the God of Oracle, and Akin, meaning Valor. Yoruba hypocorisms are often based off these roots or the suffixes. Many include just dropping the first syllable of the name as well.
- Abimbola → Bimbo
- Olubukola → Bukky, Bukki, Bukola
- Ololade → Lade, Lolade, Lola
- Abosede → Bose, Bosede
- Folasade → Fola, Ola, Sade
- Oluwadamilola → Dammy, Dami
- Fehintoluwa → Fehin, Tolu, Olu
- Olubode → Bode
- "Oluwadamilare" → "Dami", "Dare"
- "Gbolahan" → "Gbola" "Bola"
- "Abisola" → "Bisi", "Bisola"
- "Oluwole" → "Wole"
- "Akinwande" → "Akin", "Wande"
- "Folajinmi" → "Fola", "Jimmy", Jinmi
References[edit]
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, online edition: "hypocorism". Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ calling name
- ^ a b c d e Barber, Charles; Beal, Joan C.; Shaw, Philip A., eds. (2012) [1st pub. 1993]. "Middle English". The English Language: A Historical Introduction (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-107-39472-8. LCCN 2008053625. OCLC 968789066. OL 26003518M.
[T]he pet-names Nan, Ned and Nell are derived from 'mine Anne', 'mine Edward' and 'mine Ellen'.
- ^ "Dek-naŭa leciono". Esperanto.mv.ru. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
External links[edit]
The dictionary definition of hypocorism at Wiktionary
