Nicknames

[Ali <Ali@zymurgy.org>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48425


 Louise Keithly wrote:
 
>>>Harry and his friends always refer to each other (so far at least) 
by their full first name, even in moments of high excitement.
Now, everyone knows that the first thing kids (and some adults) do
when they meet is assign each other nickames.<<<

Haven't we forgotten the marauders? Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and 
Prongs seem to me to be nicknames. 

Gulplum replied:-

>>>> "Scarhead" during the Quidditch match. Perhaps this was a 
deliberate touch by Kloves to set the Slyths apart from our virtuous 
Gryffs and have them engaging in cruel name-calling, but I'd 
certainly expect more of it in the books.<<<<

This is actually canon, it's in CoS. (Sorry, my books aren't 
available to tell you the page number).
> 
>> >Generally speaking, Brits don't use abbreviated names much - I 
know several  "Charleses", but only one "Charlie" (who happens to be 
American...);  several "Richards" but no "Dicks", several "Jameses" 
but no "Jims"; several "Stephens/Stevens" but only one "Steve".<<<

I'd actually have to disagree here. I don't know how we compare to 
the States, but large numbers of my friends abbreviate their names. I 
know only Steves, and no Stevens. Several Richs (and to be fair, 
Richards).

Ali

(and yes, I also answer to the name of Alison or Al and briefly had a 
couple of nicknames at school which I was not fond of)