A few examples:
Jessica, Jae, JaeReg, Reg, Reggie, Jethro, Jethrodesia
Caroline, Carlo, Carlotta, Carlotta Kumquata, Kumquat
Jonah, Yonut, Fro-nut, Yonus Fro, Donkey Nut, Donut, Bon-oh-me-oh, Bon-oh-mc-me-oh
Cecily . . . she says hers is Cecil
Ewan, Bald-e-wan, Brick Density
Obviously the nick names are not necessarily an effort to shorten a name, or even associated with the given name in any way. Matthew's mind works in mysterious ways.
Another obvious is that Cecily is strangely lacking any nicknames. None have ever stuck to her. Which is odd considering that 'Bon-oh-me-oh' sounds just like 'Jonah' to my ears. Where is the connection? Nowhere. It is Matt's gift of persistence that stitches a name to a person. But like Peter Pan's elusive shadow, no nicknames have settled on Cecily long enough to start sewing.
Jonah and Caroline are, evidently, adopting their Dad's practice. Yesterday Caroline declared "Jonah, I'm going to call you Phoebe." To which Jonah responded, "I'm going to call you Carton-of-Jurassic-Buttermilk."
We'll see if those stick.
That would be Phoebe on the left, JaeReg in the middle, and Carton-of-Jurassic-Buttermilk on the right.
