Weasley names

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

As background to the ongoing main list debate on the Weasley names, can I just explain what I understand British usage to be?

In the UK, Percy is a name in its own right, and commoner than Percival, though someone whose name is Percival would probably be called Percy.  The two names are unrelated.

Bill is traditionally short for William, and Fred for Frederick, but both are not infrequently given as names in their own right.  (Alfred would become Alf, and Wilfred Wilf.)

Charlie is almost always 'short' for Charles.

Ginny is usually short for Virginia, but other names such as Iphigenia can't be ruled out.  Jennifer would usually become Jenny or Jen.

George is, well, George.

Most of these names are somewhat old-fashioned.  Taken together, they sound like the names of siblings from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century (as do Neville's family).

Any other Brits agree/disagree?

David, relieved that JKR hasn't yet perplexed her US audience with a Bert.


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