There are some very common pitfalls that I can comment on--even without illustration. The letters "s" and "f" are often confused. Both the capital and lower case versions of these two letters look the same in the handwriting of some of our ancestors. Vowels are often hard to distinguish too. Example: If you take these two pitfalls together, it is easy to see why the names Samuel and Lemuel are often exchanged. When looking for a name, let's say, in the census, if you can't find it, try exchanging the vowel for every other vowel. One of my ancestral names is Chilson. I have found it as Chalson, Chelson, Chilsen, etc. Another of my ancestors was named Relief, nickname Leafa. The person who transcribed the records in Putney, VT, thought the "f" was and "s" and the "e" was a "c". Every time her name occurs in the published records of that town, it reads "Lacsa". Another possible pitfall in looking for our ancestors is not being familiar all the various nicknames that might have been used for a particular given name. One of my ancestors was named Mary Ebaline Russell. It wasn't until I learned that Polly was a nickname for Mary that I finally found her on the 1850 census in her father's household as Polly Russell. Another nickname for Mary is Molly and another one is Mae. If you have an ancestor listed somewhere as Molly, you need to look for her as Mary too. Or if you know your ancestor was Mary, be sure to check for the nicknames Molly, Polly and Mae. This principle applies to all names. Also, be sure to realize that some nicknames apply to more than one given name.

I'm going to give you a list of given names and their various nicknames. Read on...

GIVEN NAMES AND POSSIBLE NICKNAMES

FEMALE NAMES--A THROUGH I

Abigail--Abby, Nabby, Gail

Adaline/Adeline--Ada, Addy, Dell, Lena

Adelaide--Addy, Adele, Dell, Della, Heidi

Adelphia--Adele, Addy, Dell, Delphia, Philly

Agatha--Aggy

Agnes--Aggy, Inez, Nessa

Aileen--Allie, Lena

Alberta--Allie, Bert, Bertie

Alexandra--Alex, Alla, Sandy

Alfreda--Alfy, Freda, Freddy, Frieda

Alice/Alicia--Allie, Elsie, Lisa

Almena--Allie, Mena

Amanda--Manda, Mandy

Amelia--Emily, Mel, Millie, Amy

Ann/Anne--Annie, Nan, Nanny, Nana, Nancy (and Ann is sometimes a nickname for Antoinette, Christiana, Roseanne, etc.)

Antoinette/Antonia--Ann, Tony, Netta

Arabella/Arabelle--Ara, Arry, Belle, Bella

Arlene--Arly, Lena

Armena--Arry, Mena

Asenath--Assene, Natty, Sene

Augusta/Augustina--Aggy, Gatsy, Gussie, Tina

Barbara--Bab, Babs, Barby, Bobbie

Beatrice--Bea, Trisha, Trix, Trixie

Belinda--Belle, Linda

Bertha--Birdie, Bert, Bertie

Bridget--Biddie, Biddy, Bridgie, Bridie

Camille--Cammie, Millie

Cornelia--Cornie, Nelia

Carol/Caroline/Carolyn--Carrie, Cassie, Lynn

Cassandra--Cassie, Sandra, Sandy

Catherine/Cathleen/Katherine/Kathleen--Cathy, Kathy, Katy, Cassie, Kay, Kit, Kittie, Trina, Lena

Cecilia--Celia, Cissy

Charlotte--Char, Lottie, Lotta, Sherry

Christine/Christina/Christiana/Kristine, etc.--Chris, Kris, Crissy, Christy, Kristy, Tina

Clarinda--Clara

Clarissa--Clara, Cissy

Constance--Connie

Cordelia--Cordy, Delia

Cornelia--Corny, Nelle, Nelly

Cynthia--Cindy, Cintha

Darlene--Lena, Darry

Deborah/Debora--Debby, Debbie, Deb

Deliverance--Della, Delly, Dilly

Delores--Dell, Lola, Lolly, Della, Dee

Dorcus--Darkey

Dorothy--Dolly, Dot, Dortha, Dotty Note: Dolly can also be a name that simply means "baby girl"--sometimes given when the name was undecided; it often stuck.

Edith--Edie

Elaine--see Eleanor

Eleanor--Elaine, Ellen, Ellie, Lanna, Lenora, Nelly, Nora

Elizabeth--Eliza, Bess, Bessie, Beth, Betsy, Betty, Lib, Libby, Liza, Lisa, Liz, Lizzie

Ellen--see Eleanor and Helen

Elmira--Elly, Ellie, Mira

Elouise--Louise, see Heloise

Elsie--see Alice

Emily--Emmy, Millie, see Amelia and Emeline

Emeline--Em, Emily, Emma, Emmy, Milly

Estelle/Estella--Essy, Stella

Esther--see Hester

Evaline--Eva, Eve, Lena

Faith--Fay

Fidelia--Delia

Florence--Flo, Flora, Flossy

Frances--Fanny, Fran, Cissy, Frankie, Sis

Fredericka--Freda, Freddy, Ricka, Frieda

Gabrielle/Gabriella--Gabby, Ella

Gail--see Abigail

Genevieve--Eve, Jean, Jenny

Geraldine--Dina, Gerry, Gerrie, Jerry

Gertrude--Trudy, Gert, Gertie

Gwendolyn--Gwen, Wendy

Hannah--Nan, Nanny, Anna, also may be a nickname for Johannah, Susannah.

Harriet--Hattie

Heidi--see Adelaide

Helen/Helene--Ella, Ellen, Ellie, Lena

Heloise--Eloise, Lois

Henrietta--Etta, Etty, Hank, Nettie, Retta

Hermione--Hermie

Hepsibah/Hephsibah--Hipsie

Hester--Hessy, Esther, Hetty

Ina--see Lavina

Inez--see Agnes

Irene--Rena

Isabel/Isabelle/Isabella--Bella, Belle, Ib, Issy, Nib, Nibby, Tibbie

Isadora--Dora, Issy

FEMALES--J through Z

Jane--Janie, Jean, Jennie, Jessie

Janet--Jessie, Jan

Jean/Jeanne--Jane, Jeannie

Jeanette--Janet, Jean, Jessie, Nettie

Jemima--Mima

Jennifer--Jennie

Jessica--Jessie

Joan--Nonie, sometimes short form of Joanna/Johannah

Joanna/Johannah--Joan, Jody, Hannah

Josephine--Jody, Jo, Joey, Josey, Fina

Joyce--Joy

Julia--Julie, Jill

Keziah--Kizza, Kizzie

Lavina/Lavinia--Ina, Vina, Viney

Lenora--Nora, Lee, see Eleanor

Letitia--Lettie, Lettice, Titia, Tish

Lillian--Lil, Lilly, Lolly

Linda--Lindy, Lynn, may be a short form of Belinda, Melinda, Philinda, etc.

Lisa--may be a short form of Elizabeth, Alice, Melissa

Lois--see Heloise, Louise

Loretta--Etta, Lorrie, Retta

Lorraine--Lorrie

Louise/Louisa--Lou, Eliza, Lois

Lucille--Lu, Lou, Cille, Lucy

Lucinda--Cindy, Lu, Lou, Lucy

Luella--Ella, Lu, Lula

Lydia/Lidia--Lyddy

Lynn--may be short form of Carolyn, Madeline, Linda, etc.

Madeline--Lena, Maddy, Madge, Magda, Maggie, Maida, Maud

Magdelina--Lena, Madge, Magda

Mahala--Hallie

Margaret/Margaretta--Daisy, Gretta, Madge, Maggie, Meg, Midge, Peg, Peggy, Rita, Margery, Marge, Margie

Martha--Marty, Mat, Mattie, Patsy, Patty

Mary--Molly, Polly, Mae, Mamie, Mitzi

Matilda--Tilly, Matty, Maud

Mehitabel--Hetty, Hitty, Mabel, Mitty

Melinda--Linda, Lindy, Mel, Mindy

Melissa--Lisa, Lissa, Mel, Milly, Missy

Michelle--Mickey

Mildred--Milly

Millicent--Milly, Missy

Minerva--Minnie

Miranda--Mandy, Mira, Randy

Miriam--Mimi, Mitzi

Nancy--Nan, see also Ann

Natalie--Natty, Nettie

Olive/Olivia--Ollie, Nollie, Livia

Parmelia--Amelia, Melia, Milly

Patience--Pat, Patty

Patricia--Pat, Patty, Patsy, Tricia

Paula/Paulina--Polly, Lina

Penelope--Penny

Philinda--Linda

Priscilla--Cissy, Cilla, Prissy

Prudence--Prudy, Prue

Rachel--Shelly

Rebecca--Reba, Becca, Becky

Regina--Reggie, Gina

Relief--Leafa

Roberta--Bobbie, Robbie, Bert

Rosabel/Rosabella--Belle, Rosa, Rose, Roz

Rosalyn/Rosalinda--Rosa, Rose, Linda, Roz

Roseann/Roseanna--Rose, Ann, Roz, Rosie

Roxanne/Roxanna--Ann, Rose, Roxie

Sabrina--Brina

Sandra--Sandy, see Cassandra, Alexandra

Sarah--Sally, Sadie

Selina (Celina)--Lena

Serena--Rena

Shirley--Lee, Sherry, Shirl

Submit--Mitty

Susan/Susannah--Sue, Sukey, Susie, Hannah

Tabitha--Tabby

Theresa--Terry, Tess, Tessie, Tessa, Thirza, Thursa, Tracy

Tryphena--Phena

Valerie--Val

Vanessa--Nessa, Essa, Vanna

Veronica--Franky, Frony, Ron, Ronnie, Ronna, Vonnie

Victoria--Vicky

Virginia--Ginger, Ginny, Jane, Jennie, Virgy

Wilhelmina--Mina, Willie, Wilma, Minnie

Winifred--Winnie, Freddie, Winnet

MALES--A through K

Aaron--Erin, Ron, Ronnie

Abel--Ab, Abe, Eb, Ebbie

Abiah/Abijah--A.B., Ab, Biah

Abiel--Biel, Ab

Abraham/Abram--Abe

Abner--Ab

Adam--Ad, Ade

Adelbert--Ad, Ade, Albert, Bert, Del, Delbert, Elbert

Adolph/Adolphus--Ad, Dolph, Olph

Alan--Al

Alanson--Alan, Al, Lonson

Albert--Al, Bert, Elbert, see also Adelbert

Aldrich--Al, Rich, Richie

Alexander--Al, Alex, Eleck, Sandy

Alfred--Al, Fred

Alonzo--Al, Lon, Lonzo

Anderson--Ander, Andy, Sonny

Andrew--Andy, Drew

Anthony--Tony

Archibald--Archie, Baldo

Arthur--Art

Asaph--Asa

Asahel--Asa

Azariah--Aze, Riah

Augustus/Augustine--August, Austin, Gus

B.F.--Often for Benjamin Franklin

Barnabas--Barney

Bartholomew--Bart, Bartel, Bat, Mees, Meus

Benedict--Ben, Bennie

Benjamin--Ben, Bennie, Benjy, Jamie

Bernard--Barney, Berney

Bradford--Brad, Ford

Broderick--Ricky, Brady, Brody

Calvin--Cal, Vin, Vinny

Cameron--Cam, Ronny, Ron

Carl--see Charles

Casey, Kasey--K.C.

Cedric--Ced, Rick, Ricky

Charles--Carl, Charlie, Chick, Chuck

Chauncey--Chan

Chester--Chet

Christopher/Christian--Chris, Kit

Clarence--Clair, Clare

Clement--Clem

Clifford--Cliff, Ford

Clifton--Cliff, Tony

Columbus--Clum

Conrad--Con, Conny

Cornelius--Con, Conny, Corny, Niel

Courtney--Court, Curt

Cyrenius--Cene, Cy, Renius, Serene, Swene

Curtis--Curt

Dalton--Dahl/Dal

Daniel--Dan, Danny

David--Dave, Davey, Day

Delbert--Bert, Del

Dennis--Denny, may be short for Dennison

Derrick--Eric, Rick, Ricky

Donald--Don, Donny

Ebenezer--Eben, Eb, Ebbie

Edmund--Ed, Ned, Ted

Edward--Ed, Ned, Ted, Teddy

Edwin--Ed, Ned, Win

Elbert--see Adelbert, Albert

Eleazer--Lazar

Elias--Eli, Lee, Lias

Elijah--Eli, Lige

Eliphalet--Left

Elisha--Eli, Lish

Elwood--Woody

Emanuel--Manny, Manuel

Ephraim--Eph

Epaphroditius--Dite, Ditus, Dyce, Dyche, Eppa

Eric--Rick, Ricky, may be nickname for Derrick

Ernest--Ernie

Eugene--Gene

Ezekiel--Ez, Zeke

Ezra--Ez

Ferdinand--Ferdie

Francis--Frank, Fran

Franklin--Frank, Fran

Frederick--Fred, Freddy, Fritz

G.W.--often George Washington

Gabriel--Gabe, Gabby

Geoffrey/Jeffrey--Geoff, Jeff

Gerald--Jerry, Gerry

Gilbert--Gil, Bert, Wilber

Harold--Hal, Harry

Henry--Hal, Hank, Harry

Herbert--Herb, Bert

Hezekiah--Hez, Hy, Kiah

Hiram--Hy

Horace--Horry

Hubert--Hugh, Bert, Hub

Ignatius--Iggy, Nace, Nate, Natius

Isaac--Ike, Zeke

Isidore--Izzy

Jacob--Jaap, Jake, Jay, could be short for Jacobus.

James--Jamie, Jem, Jim, Jimmy

Jay--see Jacob

Jedidiah--Jed

Jefferson--Jeff, Sonny

Jehiel--Hiel

Jeremiah--Jereme, Jerry

John--Jack, Jock, Johnny, occasionally a nickname for Jonathan

Jonathan--Nathan, possibly John/Jon

Joseph--Joe, Joey, Jos

Joshua--Josh, Jos

Josiah--Jos

Judson--Jud, Sonny

Julias/Julian--Jule

K.C.--sometimes for Kasey/Casey

Kenneth--Ken, Kenny, also for Kendall, Kendrick, Kent, etc.

King--may be short for Kingston or Kingsley

MALES--L through Z

Lafayette--Fate, Laffie

Lamont--Monty

Lawrence/Laurence--Larry, Lon, Lonny, Lorne, Lorry

Lemuel--Lem

Leonard--Leo, Leon, Len, Lenny, Lineau

LeRoy--L.R., Lee, Roy

Leslie--Les

Lester--Les

Levi--Lee

Lincoln--Link

Lorenzo--Loren

Lucias/Lucas--Luke

Luther--Luke

Lyndon--Lynn, Lindy

Marcus--Mark

Martin--Marty

Marvin--Marv

Matthew/Matthias--Matt, Thias, Thys

Maurice/Morris--Morey

Mervyn--Merv

Micah--somes short for Michael

Micheal--Mike, Micah, Mick, Micky

Mitchell--Mitch

Montgomery--Monty, Gum

Napoleon--Nap, Nappy, Leon

Nathan--Nate, sometimes short for Nathaniel or Jonathan

Nathaniel--Nathan, Nate, Nat, Natty, Than

Nicholas--Nick, Claas, Claes

Norbert--Bert, Norby

Obadiah--Diah, Dyer, Obed, Obie

Oliver--Ollie

Oswald--Ossy, Ozzy, Waldo

Patrick--Paddy, Pat, Patsy, Pate, sometimes Peter

Pelegrine--Perry

Percival--Percy

Peter--Pete, Pate

Philetus--Leet, Phil

Phillip--Phil

Prescott--Scott, Scotty, Pres

Ralph--sometimes for Raphael

Randolph--Randy, Dolph

Raymond--Ray

Reginald--Reg, Reggie, Naldo, Renny

Reuben--Rube

Richard--Dick, Dickon, Rich, Rick, Ricky

Robert--Bob, Dob, Dobbin, Hob, Hobkin, Rob, Robby, Bobby, Robin, Rupert

Roger/Rodger--Roge, Hodge, Rod

Roland--Lanny, Rollo, Rolly, variant of Orlando

Ronald--Ron, Ronny, Naldo

Rudolph/Rudolphus--Dolph, Olph, Rolf, Rudy

Rupert--varient of Robert

Russell--Russ, Rusty

Samuel--Sam, Sammy

Seymour--Morey, See

Shelton--Shelly, Shel, Tony

Sheridan--Dan, Danny, Sher

Sidney--Sid, Syd

Silas--Si

Simon/Simeon--Si, Sion

Smith--Smitty

Solomon--Sal, Salmon, Saul, Sol, Solly, Zolly

Stephen/Steven--Steve, Steph

Sullivan--Sully, Van

Sylvester--Si, Sly, Sy, Syl, Vester, Vet

Terence--Terry

Thaddeus--Thad

Theodore--Ted, Teddy, Theo

Thomas--Tom, Thom, Tommy

Timothy--Tim, Timmy

Tobias--Toby, Bias

Uriah--Riah

Vincent/Vinson--Vince, Vin, Vinny

Wallace--Wally

Washington--Wash, often for George Washington

Wilber/Wilbur--Will, variant of Gilbert

Wilfred--Will, Willie, Fred

William--Will, Willie, Bill, Billy, sometimes Bell or Bela

Winfield--Win, Winny, Field

Woodrow--Wood, Woody, Drew

Zachariah--Zach, Zachy, Zeke

Zebedee--Zeb

Zedediah--Zed, Diah, Dyer

Zephaniah--Zeph

Have I forgotten any??

This information was written By Sue Roe a Genealogist and Member of the Cook List

If you would like to contact Sue e-mail her at SUE
Or at
Sue Roe
117 Harvard Lane
Seal Beach, CA. 90740-2508

Check here for more information on reading old Handwriting

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