British Nicknames for Guys

In Britain you could have a very respectable English first name like Francis, Oliver pr Mortimer but it will always be reduced to a funner, shorter side-kick kind of nickname such as Franky, Nolly or Mortie.

 

Here is a look at some of the most amusing nicknames that the British, in their own reductivist way have for men

 

Abel from the bible easily becomes Abie as in “pass the crisps around will you Abie!”

 

Adam is reduced to Addie or Addy as is in “pass the plate of spicy ribs will you Addie?”

 

Alexander is often reduced to Sandy or Sander as in “When are you going to conquer the world, Sandy?”

 

Anthony is almost always turned into Tony as in “Tony got a black eye at the pub last night.”

 

Arthur is always Artie as in “Too bad that Artie got that ducky pregnant and now has to marry her.”

 

Basil turns into Baz as in “What spices are you putting in the tomato sauce Baz?”

 

The perfectly respectful name of Brandon turns into Brandy as in “Pass the cognac, Brandy.”

 

Calvin starts sounding very Italian when it is reduced to Vinny as in “Did you get the money for the rent, Vinny?”  Angelic Emmanual becomes Manny or Mannie.

 

Don’t ask how but the truly traditional British name of Cedric becomes Ricky.

 

Cornelius becomes Connie, Cory or Corny and Edward becomes Ned, Ted or Teddy.

 

Gabriel becomes Gabby, George becomes Jordie and Isaa becomes Ike;

 

Izadore becomes Izzy as in “Let’s do more acid Izzy.”

 

Almost any name in Britain can be reduced to Kenny including Kendall, Kendrick,  Kenneth and Kent.

 

Many names become Leo in British nickname world including Leon, Leopold and Leonard.

 

Floyd can be decsonstructed to Loy, or Floy.

 

Mitchell becomes Mitch as in “Mitch has a date with Barbie.”

 

Both Montgomery and Montague become Monty or Monte.

Oliver can become Ollie, Noll, Nollie or Nollie and Oswald can become Ossy, Ozzie or Ozzy. Patrick is equally versatile and is extended to Patty, Paddy, Patsy and Pat.

 

Pip is not the seed of a citrus fruit. It is actually short for Philip.

 

Rafael becomes, Rafe, Reginald becomes Rex and Reynold becomes Ray as in “Ray what time does the speakeasy open?”

 

Rudolph is also played with mercilessly by the British sensibility being reduced to Rolf, Rolph, Dolph, Dolf or Rudy.

 

Simon turns into Sim or Simm and  Solomon turns into Sol or Solly.

 

Both Wallace and Walter become Wallies. Wilber, Wiley, Wilfred, Willis, William and Wilson all become Willie. No wonder so many men in England are named Willie!