Name Question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Loudpipes78 · 11-30-2004, 09:40 AM

This has bugged me for a while and I've never gotten a straight answer.

Why are people named Richard sometimes called Dick?

Most nicknames are just shortened versions of the full names, for example:

Jon is short for Jonathan.
Mike is short for Michael.
Matt is short for Matthew.
Meg is short for Megan.

So how the heck did Dick come from Richard?

vanblah · 11-30-2004, 10:03 AM

I checked in the OED and came up with nothing. But Cecil Adams has a lot more to say about it. Check it out at:

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdick.html

Doug

edit:

Quote:

Most nicknames are just shortened versions of the full names, for example:

Jon is short for Jonathan.
Mike is short for Michael.
Matt is short for Matthew.
Meg is short for Megan.

However, Bob is short for Robert

mandal · 12-04-2004, 10:16 PM

William = Bill WTF!

uncle_el · 12-06-2004, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanblah

I checked in the OED and came up with nothing. But Cecil Adams has a lot more to say about it. Check it out at:

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdick.html

very good find!
now i no longer have to wonder!

11-30-2004, 09:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Loudpipes78 Upright	Name Question This has bugged me for a while and I've never gotten a straight answer. Why are people named Richard sometimes called Dick? Most nicknames are just shortened versions of the full names, for example: Jon is short for Jonathan. Mike is short for Michael. Matt is short for Matthew. Meg is short for Megan. So how the heck did Dick come from Richard? __________________ Seatbelts save lives... my best friend and I are alive because of them.

12-04-2004, 10:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
mandal Crazy	William = Bill WTF!