applies more to Stephie than Teppy (in the semantic extension sense, and certainly can be used in search of the same qualities). In my head it's derived more from the spelling than the sound, but similar enough.

Well, sort of. For me, the sound isn't so much the issue as the fact that it's a diminutive that is appropriate for a child. My bro was Kenny as a child, now he's Ken. No one would ever think to call him Kenny unless he introduced himself as such.

What's in a name? I didn't change mine for my first marriage, due to politics and professional requirements. I don't think I'd change mine for my next marriage (provided that happens), either. I don't much like my father (where my last name comes from), but I've spent 32 years with this name. It's kinda mine.

(Or, you know, What Tep Said.)

And I went to my full first name my senior year of high school - before that, I was "Juli". Which just looks fucking odd to me now, and the only people who get to call me that are family. No one but no one gets to call me "Jules".

In other news, so much ~ma to your mom, Hil.

I learned quickly that fewer syllables != ease of pronounciation, and I spent just as much time spelling out a shorter name.

Yeah, my last name is 5 letters, it does have a Z, which means spelling out my last name takes longer beause I have to throw in "z as in zebra" and still seeing v in stead of a z. Just like there's no "pebra" (I think Hil complained about this recently) there's no vebra.

If Americans just said Zed instead of zee my life would be easier.

I've been Frankie a few times in my life and always hated it. The only way I could put up with it was by hearing it as "Frank E" (E being my middle initial).

When I was little, my next oldest sister used to just call me "The Kid", and a couple of the older ones called me "Pumpkin" on account of the orange-red hair I had.

The only nicknames among friends that stuck were "Funky" in grade school and "Satan" in college (long story). Oh, and one friend of mine used to annoy the ever-loving fuck out of me (on purpose) by pronouncing my name as two syllables in a sing-songy way - as in Frah-ank.

The Indian naming system is much more rigid. When you are born, you have a first name and a last name. Your middle name is your father's name. If you are a man, your full name never changes. If you are a woman, you take your husband's name as your middle name as well as his last name, leaving your first name to be the only remnant of yourself.

My name is dumb and has no nicknames.

My name is dumb and has no nicknames.

Oh, Hil - much belated -ma to you and yours. Just saw your post.

I took Pete's last name. My family last name is perfectly fine, i just decided I wanted to change it. (Plus that way my initials are JVV, which I find amusing for some reason.)

Aimee, in Joe's group of friends with the nicknames, was "Raven"'s name Jeff? Guys who call themselves "Raven" are almost always Jeffs.

I (obviously) don't mind the diminutive name of Jilli. I also don't mind being called Jillian (it's what I use at work). I'm not keen on Jill, tho'.

I have a name that doesn't nick very easy. A few people are allowed to call me "Lease" (mostly male friends for some reason) and my drummer calls me "Lulu" but it would be weird if anyone else did that. My maternal grandfather called me "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and my paternal grandfather called me "Sugarbutton." Nobody can nickname like a granddad!

And I went to my full first name my senior year of high school - before that, I was "Juli". Which just looks fucking odd to me now, and the only people who get to call me that are family. No one but no one gets to call me "Jules".

My best friend with your same name but with an added 'n' went by "Julie" in h.s. but college and on friends (like me) call her "Jules." Except her husband mostly uses her full name.