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The obscure Russian nicknames! How is anybody supposed to know without being told that Sasha and Alexander are the same guy? (I do realize that while some Engli
by jhbadger 4mo ago
The obscure Russian nicknames! How is anybody supposed to know without being told that Sasha and Alexander are the same guy? (I do realize that while some English nicknames like Johnny for John are pretty self-explanatory, other like Jack for John or Dick for Richard are as opaque to foreigners as Alexander/Sasha)
- mananaysiempre 4mo agoThe dialectal form Aleksasha (following the common pattern Mariya > Masha, Pavel > Pasha, etc.) might reduce the confusion somewhat.
- personalityson 4mo agoI was in my 20's when I realized Bill and William are the same name
- lelanthran 4mo agoI read a lot of Enid Blyton in my youth; by ten I know bill/william and richard/dick, etc.
- gullywhumper 4mo agoMy wife had a grandfather with the first name Bill and middle William. After 12 years together, I'm still not sure if she's just messing with me.
- helterskelter 4mo agoWill = William Ipso facto: Bill = Billiam Mutatis Mutandis: Jim = Jimothy
- mathieuh 4mo agoThe first time I worked with Polish people I had this problem a lot until I noticed the pattern. Someone told me to go and talk to "Maciek", it was only on asking Maciej where to find him that I found out they were the same person
- krzyk 4mo agoHere there is at least same prefix. Only issue I recall might be with female Aleksandra (abbreviated to Ola) and male Aleksander (abbreviated to Olo, or Olek). Others usually (if I remember correctly) have similar prefix.
- stasomatic 4mo agoAre you sure? Olga/Olha and Oleg distinct names on their own.
- thiht 4mo ago> Jack for John Wow, is this one common?
- dghf 4mo agoTraditionally, yes; these days, perhaps not so much. The author Jack London was originally John London. John F. Kennedy was familiarly known as Jack ("Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy"). The British racing driver John Stewart is far more commonly known as Jackie Stewart. In Patrick O'Brian's naval fiction, Captain John Aubrey is almost always referred to as Jack.
- gocsjess 4mo agoSomehow nobody knows the ff. are the same: Hahya Ivan Giovanni Shawn
- mananaysiempre 4mo agocontinued: Yohanan Johann John Jack Sean Evan Ian Jean Juan João Hans Jan Vanya Vano (and I’m not including feminine variants) Although if we’re talking Hebrew > Greek > European borrowings I’m guessing Chava = Eve is funnier. For bonus funny points, ave (as in Ave Maria or Ave, imperator) comes from essentially the same Hebrew word as well.
- lesostep 4mo agoSasha and Alexander isn't that obscure thought. Very common example The real obscure diminutive for Alexander is Shura :D