Hypocorism

A hypocorism (from Greek , "to use child-talk") is a shorter form of a word or given name, for example, when used in more intimate situations as a nickname or term of endearment.

Derivation

Hypocorisms are often generated as:

a reduction (in English) of a longer word to a single syllable, then adding -y or -ie to the end, such as movie ("moving picture"), telly ("television") or Aussie ("Australian"').

a contracted form of a given name, such as Tony from Anthony, Rosy for Rosemarie or Vicky from Victoria.

a baby-talk form approximating the name's pronunciation, such as Bess for Elizabeth.

a given name with a diminutive suffix; in some languages diminutive forms of names are used primarily when referring to children and the meaning can oscillate between tenderness and condescension when used for an adult.

* -(c)ito/-(c)ita or -(c)ín/-(c)ina in Spanish, such as Juanita from Juana. Extra consonants may be interposed as in Carmelina and Carmencita from Carmen, or merged, as in Carmina.

* -chen, -lein, -(l)i (usually used with names) in German, such as Hündchen or Hündlein (from 'Hund', meaning dog) or Kalli (from 'Karl', a name); a back vowel in the root is normally subjected to umlaut, i.e. shift from u, o, a to ü, ö, ä respectively (e.g. Hund → Hündchen, Arm → Ärmchen, Holz → Hölzchen).

* a similar form, -etto/-etta, in Interlingua.

* the usual hypocoristic endings in the Dutch are in both words and personal names alike: -tje, -ke. When the name ends in a t or a d the ending is then a -je (e.g. Bert - Bertje). If the final consonant of a name is m, the ending is then -pje (e.g. Bram - Brampje) -metje (Bram - Brammetje) or -mie (Bram - Brammie). For the other consonants the hypocoristic form is -tje. In the southern parts of the Netherlands the hypocoristic form is often -ke (e.g. Peer - Peerke). Also in the Frisian the usual hypocoristic ending is -ke (e.g. Ype - Ypke). But this form (and others like -ske and -tsje) often makes the name feminine (e.g. Jetse - Jetske) like in Dutch (e.g. Jan - Jantje, Hans - Hansje). There is another productive hypocoristic ending: in the eastern part of the Netherlands (mostly in the province Drenthe), the female form is -chien Examples are Anne - Annechien, Lammert - Lammechien.

* a parallel construction in Portuguese, with -(z)inho/-(z)inha, as in Aninha from Ana and Joãozinho from João.

* same in Italian and Italian regional languages, with -ino/-ina and -etto/etta as in Paolino/Paoletto and Paolina/Paoletta from Paolo and Paola. There are also -ello/-ella, as in Donatello/Donatella from Donato and Donata, -uccio/-uccia, as in Guiduccio from Guido and -etto/-etta, ad in Giulietta from Giulia. The forms -uzzo/-uzza, as in Santuzza from Santa, are typical of Sicilian dialect.

* -ĉj- and -nj- affixes (for males and females respectively) in Esperanto; these replace the last consonant (or consonant cluster) of the root, thus patro → paĉjo (father), patrino → panjo (mother).

* -chan, -tan, or -pi in Japanese, such as Kana-chan from Kana and Aki-chan from Akihiro. Gemination (doubling) of the consonant or lengthening of the vowel before the -chan to provide two moras is common, such as Settchan from Setsuko and Hii-chan from Hiroki.

reduplication in various languages, such as John-John or Didi.

in Standard Cantonese and related dialects, the addition of a word-final very high tone, or changed tone sometimes in combination with the addition of the prefix A before the name. The A syllable is also used in other dialects originating in southern China as a term of endearment or closeness.

-ulus/-ula in Latin, most famously in the case of the Roman emperor Caligula, whose moniker means "little boot". He received the name from soldiers in reference to the small army sandals (caligae, singular caliga) he wore when he was young. Likewise the name Ursula is derived from ursa (bear) and means "little bear".

"-eleh/-leh" in Yiddish. An example is Leah - Leahleh.

As evident from the above-mentioned examples, hypocorisms frequently demonstrate (indirectly) a phonological linguistic universal (or tendency) for high-pitched sounds to be used for smaller creatures and objects (here as more "cute" or less imposing names). Higher-pitched sounds are associated with smaller creatures due to the fact that smaller creatures can only make such high frequency sounds given their smaller larynx sizes.

The word "hypocorism" is the noun form in English; "hypocoristic" is the adjective form. Some other languages prefer to use the original Greek word "hypocoristicon" as a noun. The noun "hypocoristicon" seems to be rarely used in English.

Hypocorisms in various languages

English

English also forms nicknames in a variety of manners.

Shortening, often to the first syllable:

Abraham → Abe

Anthony → Tony

Benjamin, Benedict → Ben, Benny

Carolyn → Carol, Lyn, Carrie/Cary

Christopher → Chris, Criffer, Topher

Deborah → Deb, Debby

Elizabeth → Eliza, Libby, Liz, Lizzy, Lisa, Beth, Bess

Fiona → Fi

Gregory → Greg

Jacob → Jake

Jonathan → Jon, John, Nathan

Joseph → Joe, Joey

Katherine → Kate, Katy, Kathy

Katrina → Kat, Trina

Matthew → Matt

Megan → Meg

Nathan, Nathaniel → Nat, Nate

Peter → Pete, Petey

Priscilla → Cilla, Priss, Cilly, Prissy

Raymond → Ray

Robert → Rob, Bert, Bob

Samuel, Samantha → Sam, Sammy

Stephanie → Steph, Annie, Stephy

Victoria → Tori, Vick, Vicky

Zachary → Zach

Addition of the diminutive suffix, usually -ie or -y. It is often added to the end of 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:

Alexander, Alexandra → Sandy

Anne → Annie

Arthur, Arturo → Art → Artie

Andrew → Andy → Drew

Barnaby → Barney

Daniel → Dan → Danny

David → Dave → Davy

Dennis → Denny

Edwin, Edward, Edmund → Ed → Eddie, Eddy

Elaine → Lainie

Franklin→ Frank → Frankie

George → Georgie

Isabella → Izzy

James → Jamie

Jessica → Jess → Jessie

Joel, Joseph → Joe → Joey

Jonathan → Jon, John → Jonnie, Johnnie, Johnny

Katherine → Katie

Kimberly → Kim → Kimmy

Kenneth → Ken → Kenny

Lawrence → Larry

Louis → Lou → Louie

Nicholas → Nick → Nicky

Oliver → Ollie

Ronald → Ron → Ronnie

Rosemary → Rose → Rosie/Rosy

Stephen → Steve → Stevie

Susan → Sue → Susie, Suzy

Thomas → Tom → Tommy

Timothy → Tim → Timmy

Tobias → Toby

William → Will, Bill, Willie, Willy, Billy

A short form that differs significantly from the name:

Barbara → Babs

Charles → Chuck → Chaz → Chicka

Dorothy → Dot, Dottie

Edward → Ted, Teddy (e.g. Edward "Ted" Kennedy)

Eleanor, Helen → Nell, Nellie

Elizabeth → Bess, Bessie

Gerald → Jerry

Henry → Hal, Hank, Harry

James → Jim → Jimbo, Jimmy

John → Jack

Katherine → Kitty

Margaret → Peggy, Peg, Meg

Philippa → Pippa, Pip or Pippy

Richard → Dick

Sarah → Sally

Theodore → Ted, Teddy

Virginia → Ginger, Ginny

Esperanto

Esperanto forms nicknames by suffixing -njo (for females) and -ĉjo (for males) to the first letter(s) of the basic name.

Elizabeto → Elinjo

Mario → Manjo

Sofio → Sonjo

fratino → franjo

onklino → onjo

patrino → panjo

Aleksandro → Aleĉjo

Johano → Joĉjo

Petro → Peĉjo

frato → fraĉjo

onklo → oĉjo

patro → paĉjo

French

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 → Fred

Grégory → Greg

Jean-Michel → Jean-Mi

Joannie → Jo

Marie-Charlotte → Macha

Marie-Josée → Marie-Jo

Maxime → Max

Michael → 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

Christophe → Totophe

Joseph → Jojo

Julie → Juju

Louis → 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 femalized 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

Francoise → 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 Christian names.

The name Soazig shows more than the ending "ig". Often in Breton a hypocoristic form of a Christian 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 McDonalds; gynéco from gynécologue; dico from dictionnaire; dodo (childish word for sleep, from dormir, to sleep); écolo from écologiste; 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 (McDonalds), 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 work 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

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 or -chen, e. g. Gretchen as a diminutive for Grete.

Anna, Anne → Anni

Anton → Toni

Georg → Schorsch (mostly Bavarian and Swiss German)

Ignaz → Nazi (Bavarian; out of use)

Johannes → Hannes → Hans → Hansi

Josef, Joseph → Sepp (Bavarian), Jupp (Rhinelandic)

Karl → Kalle, Kalli

Margarete → Grete

Maximilian → Max

Susanne, Susanna, Susann → Susi

Therese, Theresia → Resi (mostly Bavarian)

Ulrich → Uli (Ueli in Swiss German)

Wilhelm → Willi

Sometimes female names may have the ending -el insteag if -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 considererd “typical german” is -z:

Friedrich → Fritz (but compare the much softer Fidi from northern Germany)

Heinrich → Heini, Heinz, Hinz

Konrad → Kunz

Hungarian

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 -iis added to these truncated nameforms (Kati, Laci, Julcsi, Ági, Feri). Further diminutives can be added with the suffixes -csi or -ka, e. g. Julcsi and Lacika as a diminutive respectiveli for Júlia and László. The shorter forms are often can be given as first names in their own right (Tóni, Lili, Béni etc.)

Anna (Anne) → Ani(ka)

György (George) → Gyuri

János (John) → Jancsi

József (Joseph) → Józsi

Károly (Charles) → Karcsi

Margit (Margaret) → Manyi, Manci

Zsuzsa (Susan) → Zsuzsi

Teréz (Theresa) → Trézsi (obsolete)

Vilmos (William) → Vili

Italian

Some diminutive forms can be further modified by abbreviation; one example is:

Luigi → Luigino → Gino

Polish

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). Here is a list of common names with some of them:

Agnieszka → Aga

Aleksandra → Ola, Oleńka

Aleksander → Olek, Alek, Oluś

Anna → Ania, Anka, Anusia

Anna-Maria → Ania

Antoni → Antek

Arkadiusz → Arek, Aruś

Barbara → Basia, Baśka

Bartłomiej → Bartek, Bartuś

Bartosz → Bartek, Bartuś

Dariusz → Darek, Dareczek

Edward → Edek, Edzio

Elżbieta → Ela, Elżunia

Emila → Emilka, Emilie

Ewa → Ewka, Ewusia

Grzegorz → Grzesiek, Grześ

Henryka → Henia

Henryk → Henio, Heniek

Iwona → Iwonka, Iwcia, Iwa, Iwka

Jakub → Kuba, Kubuś

Jarosław → Jarek, Jaruś

Jan → Jaś, Janek, Janeczek

Janusz → Januszek

Jerzy → Jurek, Jerzyk

Joanna → Joasia, Asia

Julia → Julcia

Katarzyna → Kasia, Kaśka, Kasieńka, Kasiunia

Krzysztof → Krzysiek, Krzyś

Maciej → Maciek, Maciuś

Małgorzata → Małgosia, Małgośka, Gośka, Gosia, Gosieńka

Maria → Marysia, Maryśka, Marysieńka

Mirosław → Mirek, Mireczek, Mirko, Miruś

Paweł → Pawełek

Piotr → Piotrek, Piotruś

Roman → Romek, Romeczek, Romuś

Ryszard → Rysiek

Sławomir → Sławek

Tadeusz → Tadek, Tadzio

Tomasz → Tomek, Tomuś, Tomcio, Tomaszek, Tomeczek

Władysław → Władek

Włodzimierz → Włodek

Witold → Witek

Wojciech → Wojtek, Wojtuś

Zofia → Zosia, Zośka

Zbigniew → Zbyszek

Romanian

Adrian → Adi

Alexandru → Ale, Alecu, Sandu

Constantin → Costică, Titi

Cristian → Cristi

Daniel → Dan, Dănuţ

Dorina → Dori

Elena → Lenuţa

Eugen → Jenică; Eugenia → Jeni

Fernanda → Anda

Florentina → Ina

Gabriel → Gabi

Georgeta → Geta

Georgina → Gina

Gheorghe → Georgică, Gică, Gigi, Guţă

Horaţiu → Hori

Ileana → Nuţi

Ion, Ioan → Ionel, Ionuţ, Nelu

Maria → Mărioara, Mimi, Mioara

Monica → Moni

Nicolae → Nicu, Nicuşor, Nae

Octavian → Tavi

Ovidiu → Ovi

Petre → Petrică, Petruţ, Petrişor

Raluca → Ralu, Uca

Ştefan → Fane, Fănel, Ştefănel

Tiberiu → Tibi

Teodor → Teo

Valentin → Vali

Vasile → Lică, Vasilică

Vlad → Vlăduţ

Russian

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 an -ik, -ok (-yok) (masculine gender), -chk-/-shk- and -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, Lyoshik, Lyosha, Lyoha

Aleksandr(a) → Sasha, Sanya, Shura, Sashen'ka, Shurik, Sashka, San'ka, Sashechka, Shurka, Shurochka

Anastasiya → Nastya, Asya, Nasten'ka, Nastyushka, Nastyona, Nast'ka

Andrey → Andryusha, Dyusha, Dyukha, Dron, Andryuha''

Anna → Anya, Anyuta, Anyutka, Anechka, Annushka, Nyuta, Nyura, Nyurka, Nyusha

Artyom → Tyoma

Boris → Borya, Boren'ka, Boryusha, Bor'ka

Dmitriy → Dima, Mitya, Miten'ka, Dimochka, Mityusha, Dimon, Mit'ka, Diman, Dimych

Galina → Galya, Galka, Galechka,

Georgiy → Gosha, Goga, Yuriy

G(h)erman → Germa, Germusya, Musya, Gera, Gerusya, Gerukha, Gerusha, Gesha

Gleb → Glebka

Grigoriy → Grisha, Grinya

Irina → Ira, Irochka, Irunya, Irisha, Irishka

Ivan → Vanya, Ivanushka, Vanechka, Van'ka

Kirill → Kiryusha, Kirya, Kirik

Konstantin → Kostya, Kostenka, Kostik, Kost'ka

Leonid → Lyonya, Lyonik, Lyonуchka, Lyon'ka

Lev → Lyova, Lyovik, Lyovуchka, Lyov'ka

Mariya → Masha, Manya, Mashen'ka, Mashechka, Mashusha, Marusya, Mashka

Mikhail → Misha, Mishen'ka, Mishanya, Mishka, Mishunyok, Mishutka, Miha, Mischechka

Nadezhda → Nadya, Naden'ka, Nadyushka

Nataliya → Natasha, Nata, Natashen'ka, Natusen'ka, Natusik, Natashka

Nikolay → Kolya, Kolen'ka, Nikolen'ka, Nikolasha, Kol'ka, Kolyan

Oksana → Oksanka, Ksana, Sana, Kseniya

Oleg → Olezhka, Olezha, Olezhek, Olegushka, Lega, Lyoka

Olga → Olya, Olen'ka, Olechka

Pavel → Pasha, Pashen'ka, Pavlik

Pyotr → Petya, Peten'ka, Petrusha, Petyunya

Radimir → Radya, Mira

Robert → Robka

Roman → Roma, Romka, Romachka

Sergei → Seryozha, Seryoga, Seryozhen'ka, Seryozhka, Seriy

Stepan → Styopa, Styopan'ka, Stepan'chik, Styopushka, Styopka

Stanislav→ Stasya, Stasyan, Stasik, Stasyuka, Stasenka

Sofiya → Sonya, Sonechka, Sofa, Sofechka

Tatyana → Tanya, Tan'ushka, Tan'ka, Tanechka, Tan'chik

Bratislav and Vyacheslav → Slava, Slavochka

Svetlana → Sveta, Svetochka, Svetyushka, Svetka

Svyatoslav → Svetik, Sletych

Vadim → Vadik, Vadimka, Vadya, Vadisha, Vadyusha

Valeriy → Valera, Lera, Lerusha, Valerka

Viktoriya → Vika

Vladimir → Volodya, Vova, Vovochka, Voloden'ka, Vovka, Volodka, Vovan

Yaroslav → Yarik, Yaroshka, Yar

Yefim → Fima, Fimochka

Yekaterina → Katya, Katerina, Katechka, Katen'ka, Katyukha, Katyusha, Kat'ka

Yevgeny(a) → Zhenya, Zhenechka, Zheka, Zhen'ka, Zhenich

Yuriy → Yura, Yurka

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.

Serbian

Aleksandar → Aca, Sale, Saša

Aleksandra → Sandra, Saša, Saška

Ana → Anica

Dragana → Gaga

Gordana → Goga, Goca

Katarina → Kaća, Kata

Lena → Lenče, Lenka

Ljiljana → Ljilja

Ljubomir → Ljuba

Jelena → Jela, Jeca

Jovan → Joca, Jovica

Marija → Mara

Mirjana → Mira, Mirka

Slobodan → Sloba, Boba

Snežana → Sneža

Vladimir → Vlada, Vlatko

Zvonimir → Zvonko

Zoran → Zoki, Kiza

Spanish

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 → Ju

Jorge → Jorgito → Jor

Antonio → Antoñín, Antoñito, Antoñete, Antoñillo, Toño

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:

María Teresa → Maritere, Mayte, Marite

María Luisa → Marisa

María del Carmen → Mayca, Mamme, Mamen

María Isabel → Maribel, Marisa

Luz María → Luzma

María Fernanda → Marifer, Mafer

María Salvadora → Marisa

Juan Carlos → Juanca

Juan Esteban → Juanes

Juan Manuel → Juanma

Juan Miguel → Juanmi

Many Spanish nicknames, however, are or can seem very unlike the original name. Notice, however, that the -ch- sound is common in these diminutives:

Alberto → Berto, Beto

Alfonso → Fon, Fonso, Fonsi, Poncho

Anastasio → Tasio, Tacho

Aniceto → Cheto

Antonio → Toño

Beatriz → Bea, Beti

Carlos → Cacho

Concepción → Concha, Conchita, Conchi

Consuelo → Chelo

Diego → Yago

Dolores → Lola

Eduardo → Edu, Lalo

Enrique → Quique, Rico

Ernesto → Neto

Feliciano → Chano

Felipe → Feli, Pipe

Federico → Quico, Kiko

Fernanda → Fer, Nanda

Fernando → Fer, Nando, Fercho

Francisco → Fran, Paco, Curro, Pancho, Pacho, Quico

Graciela → Chela, Gra

Guadalupe → Lupe, Lupita

Guillermo → Guille, Guillo, Memo, Picho

Ignacia → Nacha

Ignacio → Nacho

Isabel → Isa, Chavela, Chabela, Chabel, Chava

Jesús → Chuy, Chus, Chucho, Suso

Jorge → Coque

José → Pepe, Chepe

José María → Chema, Josema

Juan → Juancho, Juani

Laura → Lala, Lau, Yaya

Lidia → Yiya

Luis → Lucho, Güicho

Luisa → Lucha

Manuel → Manu, Manolo, Lolo

María Fernanda → Máfer, Marifer

María José → Coté, Marijose, Majo

Maximina → Chimina

Mercedes → Meche

Miguel → Migue

Ramón → Moncho, Monchi, Ramoncito

Refugio, María del Refugio → Cuca

Roberto → Rober, Berto, Beto

Rosario → Chayo, Charo

Santiago → Santi, Chago

Sergio → Checo

Silvia → Chiva

Soledad → Sole, Lola

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

Speakers of Philippine languages follow the same system.

Swedish

Male hypocorisms are often based on the first syllable of the name (shortening it if it's long), plus the ending -"e":

Anders → Adde, Ante

Andreas → Adde, Ante

Bengt → Bengan, Benke

Bo → Bosse

Daniel → Danne

Filip → Fille

Frans → Frasse

Fredrik → Fredde

Gustav → Gurra

Henrik → Henke

Henning → Henke

Jan → Janne

Joakim → Jocke

John → Jonte

Jonatan → Jonte

Karl → Kalle

Krister → Krille

Kristian → Krille

Kristoffer → Krille, Stoffe

Lars → Lasse

Leif → Leffe

Magnus → Mange

Mikael → Micke

Oskar → Orre

Per → Pelle, Perra

Pontus → Putte

Roland → Rolle

Sebastian → Sebbe, Basse

Sigvard → Sigge

Stefan → Steffe

Sven → Svempa, Svenne

Tobias → Tobbe

Tomas → Tompa

Torbjörn → Tobbe

Torsten → Totta

Ulf → Uffe

Viktor → Vicke

Vilhelm → Ville

These forms may be quite old: the oldest possible attestation may be the name Sibbi on the Rök Runestone dating to approx. 800 AD.

See also

Diminutive

Nickname

Term of endearment

References

Category:Given names Category:Onomastics Category:Informal personal names Category:Linguistic morphology