The Top 10: Diminutive names that are most unlike the originals

Pet names that seem to bear no relation to the formal version

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, is actually named Nancy, but it was originally a nickname for Ann (AP)

I had no idea what realms of linguistics I was getting into with this one, but none of these are as arbitrary as they seem: there are rules and patterns even in the forming of familiar names.

1. Peggy for Margaret. From Maggie, a simplification of the first syllable, to Meg by a common vowel change, then to Peg or Peggy by changing the initial consonant to the plosive form – the sound made by blocking the air flow.

2. Daisy for Margaret, via marguerite, French for daisy.

3. Polly for Mary. Molly shifts the “r” to “l”, a common change for young children, taking the vowel with it, then the same initial consonant change as Peggy.

4. Dick for Richard and Bill for William seem quite close to the originals once you get used to the hardening of consonants: “r” to “d” and “ch” to “ck” of Rich, and the “w” to “b” of Will.

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5. Jack for John. No idea why, because it sounds like the French for James, although that itself comes from Jacob, with the “b” turning into an “m” in Vulgar Latin, Iacomus. Thanks to John Peters, who calls himself @johnthejack on Twitter.

6. Senga for Agnes. Scots seem to have a sub-genre of spelling games, doing Agnes backwards. Shug for Hugh sounds the “g” just for the sake of it. But Dode or Doddie for George is more familiar, substituting the plosive “d” for the “j” sound. Thanks to BD Alexander for nominating those.

7. Nancy for Ann. By this stage, if you’d told me Nancy was short for Ruth, as in Nancy Blackett in Swallows and Amazons, I’d have believed you – except that I remember she changed her name because Captain Flint said pirates were ruthless.

8. Sasha for Alexander or Alexandra. Sandy is a straightforward shortening, but where the “sh” comes from, I don’t know. Perhaps it is a generic ending similar to the fashion for changing the endings of nicknames to “z”, as in Jez and Boz or Jezza and Bozza.

9. Jed Mercurio is short for Gerald, “which sounds quite different to me”, said Steven Fogel.

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10. Maud for Matilda. Not so common these days. Thanks to David Sutherland.

No room, then, for Bubbles for Barbara (nominated by Simon Kane), or for a ruling on whether Alastair, Alistair, Alister, Alasdair and so on is a form of Alexander (thanks to Graham Fildes).

There is always one, and this week it is Martin Sykes-Haas, who nominated Brenda for Elizabeth.

Next week (Easter break): Jokes.

Coming soon: Artists begrudging their creation that made them famous, such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes.

Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk