What are some nicknames that convey an entirely different persona than the full, formal name?

Betsy is the worst of all the many Elizabeth nicknames, and I have no respect for a grown woman who uses it.

Catherine/Katherine ... Cat/Kitty

Barry / Barack

Mary/MARY!!!!!!!!!!!

Peggy/Margaret

Dick and Richard /Rich/Richie

Hot Lips/Margaret

Michael and Mike

Whenever Mac on KNOTS LANDING was scared for or angry at Karen's son, he'd snap "Mike!" but when he wanted to be gentle with him, he'd say "Michael"

Edward/Eddie/Ed ... all totally different imo, but none of them bad

Michael/Mickey

You must never call a man named "Michael", "Mickey"!

Charles, Charlie, Chuck

Megan/Meg.

Meg sounds like a businesswoman, a journalist, a no-nonsense type, a lesbian.

Megan just sounds like a handful.

Charles : Chuck

Elizabeth : Betty

John : Jack

Frances Gumm : Judy Garland

Madonna : Mother

r13 I married a Chuck. And he was definitely a Chuck, sometimes AKA Chuckie. Definitely never his given name of Charles. We are no longer married.

My cousin Robby was a wonderful guy. He inspired our whole family. He died of a heart attack at age 45.

Aside from Robert and Robbie, we have Rob, Bobby, and Bob. The Bobs I've known have been friendly old men. I haven't ever met a Bobby. Robs have been mostly hot dudes.

The Godawful Lottie for Charlotte.

The Bobs i've known have been really very friendly men. Always a smile on their faces.

Sascha for Alexander. Totally different vibe. More gentle and sounds like a fluffy puppy. Alexander sound commanding and powerful like his head should be on a coin.

Davids and Daves are two entirely different people.

Dave works at the local garage and is drinking beer at 8 AM.

David has a perfect pocket square and is about to fire you.

Elizhabesh vershush Lizha!

Shtuffy on one shide, SHENSHATIONAL on the other!

Megan is the "off to the party" one. Meg is the down to business person.

I grew up in a family thick with Roberts and Robs and Robbies and Bobs and Bobbys. It was more about clarity in distinguishing one from another, much less about matching a version of a name to a personality.

Timmy, Tim, Timothy

Dorothy/Dolores ... Dolly

Maggie is a slightly frumpy cat lady.

Margaret is the judge sentencing you to prison.

DLers thoughts on names are always fascinating.

Most Robbies, Jimmys, Timmys, Tommys, Billys, Daveys, Mattys and the like drop those names when they start working real jobs so as to sound more adult.

Southerners are more likely to keep the diminutives.

R6 so true! And it can even change the persona of the same person.

Observe. This is Richard McCourt, as a very polite, calm, professional young man...

...and this is Dick McCourt of a feeble years later—a rude, chaotic manchild anarchist.

R19/R20=Tracy Jacks...

R28 I demand 3 minutes of my life back!

Lucy / Lucretia. One is an hilarious goofball, the other a murderous poisoner.

Pauline would like to speak to your supervisor.

Polly is your hippy sis-in-law who crochets Christmas gifts.

As a Brit, all these diminutive forms suggest a kind of charming but vicious street-level criminality.

Yeah, R34, but as a Brit, your most common nickname is "cunt", so...

Frances vs Franny

Judy vs Judith

Gary vs Gareth

Gawain vs Gavin

Jedediah vs Jed

Jennifer/ Jenny/ Jen.

Awful name. The root name Genevieve is so much nicer.