Pet Names. Do you like yours?

[Hamble]

Want to wager that you'll not be called Flossie on this site in the future?

Ooops!

That was an admission!

[Derek H]

Ooops!

That was an admission!

Never mind, Flossie, you'll get over it.

[Hamble]

At one time, English girls called Margaret were Flossies.

In some countries these English diminutives have become proper names. Such as Flossy in India and Nancy (an English diminutive of Anne) in the Phillipines. Meanwhile, Indian males with the proper name Kutty have that name because their colonised ancestors didn't grasp that '(what a ) cutie!' was not a name but a term of endearment.

No link to the name Margaret.

I imagined my pet name was from a character on television or advert from the 1950's or 60's.

My Grandparents coined it.
They also gave my brother a pet name easily identifiable as a cartoon character.

[Hamble]

Flossie was a nickame for Florence. Never heard of it being used for Margaret. Girls called Margaret (or similar spelling - my wife's middle name is Margareth) were often referred to as Daisy. One example is the Queen of Denmark.

Interesting.

No link to Florence for me.

[Hamble]

I need to remember. Possibly Northanger Abbey, but I'm not sure.

I found something interesting here I may have overlooked years ago when I last looked into it.



https://nameberry.com/babyname/Flossie

Quote
"Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Flossie was one of the younger twins in the iconic children's book series The Bobbsey Twins, first published in 1904. Appealing, if a little cutesy--sweet as candy floss. A similar name is Florrie."


You know how memories just hit you when least expecting?

I lived with my grandparents until they both died suddenly when I was 7.
My Grandmother used to read 'The Bobbsey Twins' to me.
Although I remembered the title I only recently looked up where the books came from America.

Good work Hector.

[Hector]

I found something interesting here I may have overlooked years ago when I last looked into it.



https://nameberry.com/babyname/Flossie

Quote
"Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Flossie was one of the younger twins in the iconic children's book series The Bobbsey Twins, first published in 1904. Appealing, if a little cutesy--sweet as candy floss. A similar name is Florrie."


You know how memories just hit you when least expecting?

I lived with my grandparents until they both died suddenly when I was 7.
My Grandmother used to read 'The Bobbsey Twins' to me.
Although I remembered the title I only recently looked up where the books came from America.

Good work Hector.

Always try to help.

Jane Austen is earlier. But yes it could have been the case that Flossie was just an affectionate name and I have retained a memory of a fictional Margaret who was known as Flossy.


I know an Indian Sikh woman whose 'housename' was Dolly and Moslem Indians who were known as girls as Bobby and Stevie. They still giggle if I call them by those names.

[gsgsgs]

I had an elderly friend who called me Brian, not my name nor anything like it. After trying to correct her unsuccessfully I gave up, when she passed I wrote a sympathy card to her family and realised they'd no idea who I was if I signed it with my name so had to sign it Brian.

[gsgsgs]

It's not something I've experienced myself as my name can't be shortened - however my grandmother's name was Eleanor and she was known to all and sundry, for her entire lifetime, as Nellie (which was unfortunate as Eleanor is such an elegant name, whereas Nellie ... ummm, not so much!)

I have a friend whose name is Helen but prefers to be called Eleanor, not her middle name she just likes it.

[gsgsgs]

I do have a family nickname derived from me not being able to say my name as a small child, family and a very few close friends use it.

[jamyramy]

I do have a family nickname derived from me not being able to say my name as a small child, family and a very few close friends use it.

replying to thread call the missus twoiletter (french chic).but before she won the lottery it was s,,,house!

[jamyramy]

ps yes it was a joke duh!

[Derek H]

ps yes it was a joke duh!

Thanks for that explanation. It helps, inasmuch I didn't, and still don't, understand the joke or find it funny in any manner or form. But that's only me. Maybe others react differently.

[justbecause]

One of the best one liner quotes ever was Trigger from Only Fools and Horses.
”if it’s a boy, they’re going to call it Rodney....after Dave”. Priceless!

[jamyramy]

Thanks for that explanation. It helps, inasmuch I didn't, and still don't, understand the joke or find it funny in any manner or form. But that's only me. Maybe others react differently.

its an old scouse joke! twoiletter attempt at French for toilet.the wife used to be called s...house,but she won the lottery so we call her the posh version now! haha it was doing the rounds back when the lottery came out.never mind .any joke in a lockdown haha .take care.

[MICK/GILLY]

My Nan was a Margaret shortened to Meg . I got my nickname while running around arms outstretched in the playground aged 7 playing aeroplanes, Gilligans island was on the tv at the time and someone called me Gilligan (a stupid head character ) and it stuck, it was shortened to Gilly, my mum used to go mad about this as she ( rightly ) thought Michael was a lovely name.