Nicknames are great because they have tons of personality and can be a form of affection when used by certain people. While short forms of names are common now, many people don’t realize the significance they used to hold.
“Back when names were more concentrated, having a nickname was very important,” Laura Wattenberg, author of The Baby Name Wizard, explained to Stuff.co.nz. “At one time in history 25 per cent of all English babies were named John or Mary.”
Today, the trend of nicknames is still going strong; so much so that some parents decide to skip the first name altogether and jump straight to a nickname. For example, choosing the moniker Jake instead of Jacob, or Kate instead of Katherine.
The other great thing about nicknames is that they can be completely unique. Billy, for instance, is a common variation of William, and Peggy is a variation of Margaret.
Nicknames also allow your child to “choose” a different moniker if they feel their first name doesn’t really suit them. “Why not let your child dress her name up or down, to suit the occasion?” says Wattenberg.
If you love this idea, then flip through the slideshow below for 15 best baby names with the most options.
