Hip Alternative Nicknames

A friend and I were discussing Thomas the other day. She said she loved it, but worried it was too "boring". I suggested the Scottish diminutive "Tam" as a nickname as an alternative to Tom to add a bit of unique interest.

It occurred to me that there are tons of international variants of "classic" names (i.e. Catherine, Caterina, Katrine, Ekaterina etc) and that most of these languages also have their own distinct nicknames which would make a hip alternative to the common nicknames we have in English speaking countries -- either as a cool nickname for a classic (Thomas nn Tam) or as an alternative to the popular nicknames-as-first-names (Allie > Anneli).

EDIT: I'll keep editing this post to include all the suggestions given. That way they can be all together in one big post :)

Adelaide
Alida -- Dutch

Alexandra
Lesya -- Russian

Ann/Anna
Anja -- Scandinavian
Anka -- Polish
Anneli -- Finnish
Anouk -- French
Ans -- Dutch
Anya -- Russian
Nansi-- Welsh
Nita -- Scandinavian

Caroline
Kaja -- Polish
Karo -- Scandinavian
Liina -- Finnish
Line/Lina-- Scandinavian

Catherine
Cadi-- Welsh
Cati-- Welsh
Catia -- Portugese
Cato -- Dutch
Ine -- Scandinavian
Kaisa -- Finnish
Kajsa (ky-sa)-- Scandinavian
Kari
Karna
Kasia (kah-sha) -- Polish
Katya -- Russian
Trine-- Scandinavian

Cecilia
Cille-- Danish
Cili-- Hungarian
Silja -- Finnish
Silla-- Scandinavian
Zilla -- German

Christina
Kia -- Swedish
Kikki-- Scandinavian
Kirsi -- Finnish
Kirstie / Kirsty-- Scottish
Stina-- Scandinavian

Dorothy
Ditte-- Danish
Dora-- Scandinavian
Dorit-- Scandinavian
Dorti-- Welsh
Teija (tay-a) -- Finnish
Thit-- Scandinavian

Eleanor
Elna -- Scandinavian
Lora -- Italian

Elizabeth
Bethan-- Welsh
Betsan-- Welsh
Beti-- Welsh
Betsi-- Welsh
Eliška (el-eesh-ka)-- Czech
Ilsa-- Dutch
Lies -- Dutch
Liesel-- German
Liesje (lee-sha) -- Dutch
Liisi -- Finnish
Lysod-- Welsh

Helen / Helena
Eli -- Scandinavian
Elin -- Scandinavian
Eline -- Scandinavian
Ili-- Hungarian
Leni -- Scandinavian

Henrietta
Henna -- Finnish
Hennie -- Dutch
Jetta -- Dutch
Rikke-- Scandinavian

Jane / Joanna
Hannie -- Dutch
Janken-- Scandinavian
Jannicke-- Scandinavian
Siani / Sharni-- Welsh

Madeleine / Magdelena
Duci -- Hungarian
Lene / Leni-- Scandinavian
Lenka -- Czech / Slovak
Madel-- Scandinavian
Madicken-- Scandinavian
Magli-- Scandinavian
Malena-- Scandinavian
Malin -- Swedish

Margaret
Beggan-- Welsh
Magali -- Provencial
Mared-- Welsh
Megan-- Welsh
Meta -- Scandinavian
Mette -- Danish
Paaie -- Manx
Reetta -- Finnish

Mary / Maria
Maiken -- Scandinavian
Mali -- Welsh
Masha -- Russian
Mia -- Dutch/German
My (mee) -- Swedish

Matilda
Mette -- Scandinavian
Thilda -- Scandinavian
Tilla -- Scandinavian


Alexander
Ales -- Czech
Olek-- Polish
Sander-- Dutch
Santo -- Cornish

Christopher
Kester -- Scottish
Kitto -- Cornish
Risto -- Finnish

George
Jory -- Cornish

James / Jacob
Jem -- Medieval English
Jeppe-- Scandinavian

John
Hans-- Scandinavian
Hasse-- Scandinavian
Ianto-- Welsh
Jens-- Scandinavian
Jockie -- Scottish
Johs-- Scandinavian

Joseph
Jef-- Dutch
Jos-- Dutch
Zef -- Dutch

Matthew
Mads -- Danish
Mats -- Scandinavian
Ties -- Dutch

Nicholas
Klas/Klaus -- Scandinavian
Kolya -- Russian
Nicca -- Cornish
Nils -- Scandinavian

Peter
Per -- Scandinavian
Piers -- Medieval English
Pyrs -- Welsh

Robert
Bo -- Scandinavian
Boye-- Scandinavian

Thomas
Tam -- Scottish
Tomek-- Polish

William
Bilo -- Welsh
Ville -- Scandinavian

Can you give me any more international nicknames you think would work well? :)

elea wrote:A friend and I were discussing Thomas the other day. She said she loved it, but worried it was too "boring". I suggested the Scottish diminutive "Tam" as a nickname as an alternative to Tom to add a bit of unique interest.

It occurred to me that there are tons of international variants of "classic" names (i.e. Catherine, Caterina, Katrine, Ekaterina etc) and that most of these languages also have their own distinct nicknames which would make a hip alternative to the common nicknames we have in English speaking countries -- either as a cool nickname for a classic (Thomas nn Tam) or as an alternative to the popular nicknames-as-first-names (Allie > Anneli).

Here are a few I can think of from the top of my head:

Some of these seem really familiar---

Alida (Adelaide) -- Dutch
Bethan (Elizabeth) -- Welsh --- Bethany
Betsan (Elizabeth) -- Welsh ---Betsy
Cadi/Cati (Catherine) -- Welsh --- Katie (I really like this one though; in the US, people seem reluctant to spell any version of Kate with a C "to be different"
Ilsa (Elizabeth) -- Dutch --- Elsa
Lesya (Alexandra) -- Russian ---Lexie
Liesel (Elizabeth) -- German --- Lisa
Paaie (Margaret) -- Manx ---- I've never heard of Manx. ---Peggy?
Reetta (Margaret) -- Finnish --- Rita

Kester (Christopher) -- Scottish
Kitto (Christopher) -- Cornish -- I think it will be a while before Christopher goes by any form of Kit in the US again, but Kitto is interesting. I think a lot of parents call their children "Kiddo" sometimes.
Olek (Alexander) -- Polish --- Alec
Risto (Christopher) -- Finnish
Sander (Alexander) -- Dutch --- Sandy or Xander. Yeah, guys used to be called Sandy!
Santo (Alexander) -- Cornish

elea wrote:Can you give me any more international nicknames you think would work well? :)

I thought it was really interesting. I think this is a great idea! In the case of some nicknames being spelled wildly different from the versions of these names, we certainly have used something that appears similar. Not all the ones I listed are in favor right now.

Some of the nicknames by themselves could be used on their own if people like a nickname for a formal name. Olek is cute! Tam, however... Tammy is short for Tamara or Thomasina, not one of those nicknames like Chris or Sam that could be either a boy or girl.

Kester is like Chester, but Chester isn't related. Santo sounds cool but also means saint in Spanish and Italian (I guess that's ok for a name?). Many towns especially in the western US are named after saints from the Spanish influence/Mexico, some shortened to San, or in the feminine Santa. Also we call Father Christmas "Santa Claus" here. St. Nicholas sometimes, but usually Santa Claus. Not sure how come that's not Santo Claus actually. Goofy Americans! It's also pronounced like clause and not Klaus (clouse), too. Now I gotta look up why....

This thread idea reminds me of the mom who wanted a nickname for Wilhelmina and chose from the Polish, 'Minka' several months ago. I think this is a great idea! I can't wait to see more suggestions, although I have nothing to offer in that way at the moment.

Klaus for Nicholas would be one, I guess?

We call our Nikolai, Kolya...which I think would work for Nicolas too :) Russian in origin :)

Karen -- Manx is the traditional Gaelic language that comes from the Isle of Man. You are right, Paaie is the Manx form of Peggy :)

liveaparis -- Kolya is very cool!


Here are a few more I've remembered:

Ans (Anna) -- Dutch
Cille (Cecilia) -- Danish
Kaja (Caroline) -- Polish
Liina (Caroline) -- Finnish
Lora (Eleanor) -- Italian
Magali (Margaret) -- Provencial
Meta (Margaret) -- Scandinavian
Mette (Margaret) -- Danish

Jem (James) -- Medieval English
Mads (Matthew) -- Danish
Ties (Matthew) -- Dutch
Tomek (Thomas) -- Polish

I can do some Scandinavian ones ^^ Nicknames usually aren't in use daily in Norway these days, we call people by their full name, no questions asked, unless the person in question wants you to use something else, at which point they will say so (A friend of mine is Linn Borgny, loves it when we call her Libby!) A lot of the names have nicknames anyway, and most of the nicknames are today used as full names only, at least in Norway, meaning you're more likely to find a Stina than a Christina called Stina by her friends and family...

Girls
Sina - Thomasina, or any name ending in Sina
Minna - Wilhelmina, or any name ending in Mina
Tina - I think you get the picture, this is the most common one type of nicknaming
Thilda/Tilla - Mathilda
Karo - Karoline
Silla - Cecilia
Tineke - Martine (mar-TEEN)
Ea - Andrea and other names ending in ea
Fi - Josephine
Stina - Christina
Diddi/Ditte - Edith
Kikki - Kristin
Ine/Ina - names ending in -ina or -ine
Ia - any name starting with i and ending in a, most importantly Inga in Scandinavia
Kajsa - Katherine
Maiken - Maria
Madicken - Magdalena
Linni - Any name starting with Lin
Lolla - probably Louise, but would work with many names
Nita - Anna, Anita
Madel - Magdalena
Tess/Tessa - Therese
Sickan - Sigrid (Swedish)

Boys
Basse - Originally for Bjorn, but could work for Sebastian (Swedish)
Hasse - Hans
Johs - Johannes
Kalle - Karl
Mats - Mathias, Matthew
Bo/Boye - Robert
Ville - Vilhelm

I could probably dig up some more, but I don't have my name books with me right now... I will return with more, though!! ^^

I'm safe home with my name books, and I have some more unusual nicknames for you

Boys:
Jeppe/Ib - Jacob (Danish)
Ard - Adrian
Hans/Jens - Johannes
Klas/Klaus/Nils - Nicholas
Kort/Kurt - Conrad
Mons - Magnus
Per - Peter
Tobby - Tobias

Girls:
Agda - Agatha
Brit - Bridget
Carrie - Catherine
Dorit/Dora - Dorothea
Eli/Elin/Eline - Helene
Elna - Eleanor
Gina - Regina
Hedda/Hedi - Hedvig
Hege - Helga
Hennie - Henrietta
Rikke - Henrikke/Fredrikke, forms of Henrietta and Frederica
Isa - Isabella
Janken/Jannicke/Jannick - Joanna (Johanna)
Jette - Jeannette
Jytte - Judith
Kari/Karna - Katherine
Lill - Lillian
Lene/Leni - Helena, Magdalena
Line/Lina - Carolina/e (LEE-neh/nah)
Magli/Malena - Magdalena
Mette - Mathilde
Milde - Mildred
Thit - Dorothea
Tonje - Antonia
Trine - Katrina
Vera - Veronica

I know a lot of these would be hard to use, and I know some of them are probably well known to you, but I thought you might find it interesting ^^ Thit is particularly funky!
These were just all listed in my name book from the 60's :)

dearest wrote:

Bo/Boye - Robert

I really like Bo for Robert! I like the name Bo but it really feels like it needs to be longer. Robert was my grandfathers name. We hadn't planned on using it but I will definitely file the nn Bo away to suggest to siblings and cousins who may want to use Robert for themselves.

Sorry I don't have any nn's to contribute but I really love the other nn's suggested here. Oh yeah my sister Kristina was sometimes called Stina by a few friends.

Great nicknames Dearest!! I'm with disa_lan, Bo for Robert is great!

I also like Ea, and Mette for Matilda/Mathilde (I had it down for Margaret as well ;) )

Some more Welsh ones:

Beggan (Margaret)
Betsi (Elizabeth)
Beti (Elizabeth)
Dorti (Dorothy)
Lysod (Elizabeth)
Mali (Mary)
Mared (Margaret)
Megan (Margaret)
Nansi (Ann)
Nest/Nesta (Agnes)
Siani/Sharni (Jane)

Bilo (William)
Dai (David)
Dewi (David)
Deian (David)
Ianto (John)
Pyrs (Peter)

I've added some Hungarian and Polish nicknames I've stumbled across. If I've got them wrong, someone please please correct me :)