First name variations

[Maths girl]

Christine gets shortened to Chris
Michael gets shortened to Mike

Fairly obvious but when I tell my children that "Aunt Peggy's real name is Margaret" - they look at me as though I must have gone mad.
These might vary too in different parts of the country:

Some web sites that may help,

http://genealogy.about.com/library/bl_nicknames.htm

http://www.whatsinaname.net/

What odd ones have you come across that are not on either of the above web sites?

[ellie]

It can get confusing. I haven't come across any that aren't common. However, I was searching the 1911 census for the Hollins side of my family. I was looking in particular for my grandmother who was named Ellen, I eventually found her under 'Nellie.

[peterd]

a lot of ellen were nellie just reverse nellie you get eillen

[watters2831]

i have found out that Mary can become Polly or Pollie espescially in lancashire

[Rabito]

I had an aunt called Margaret who was always known as Bunty.
No idea whether this is traditional or just a nickname

[KayM]

I have an Ellen/Helen who is twice recorded as Alice in SW Scotland. Anyone come across that before?

[Fatman]

I had a Gulielmus as William today!

[linell]

I had a Gulielmus as William today!

I have a Gulielmus too, it's not a variation though, it was the old Latin name for Wm:-

9.2.1718 Ellena fa Willi Chubback and Ellemae baptised.
15.7.1720 Gulielmus fs Gulielmus Chubback et Helena from Haywood

Linell.

[watters2831]

Has anybody got a hannah that became agnes? - i'm confused as to whether her name changed or she's a completely different person?

[serreth]

I've found a female Henrietta who becomes Henry (and as a result gets recorded as 'son' in 1 census!)