In many genealogically related documents (especially newspapers and census records), nicknames were frequently used, as those names were more often used than the “formal” given name of the person.
Your search index database is not smart enough, for example, to interpret ‘Sadie” for the formal given name of “Sarah”. Thus, you will need to use both names separately in your search criteria.
So, when developing your search criteria for both genealogy and newspaper searches, you need to include nicknames in your repertoire.
Here are some articles that list common and old-time nicknames that you should employ in your search criteria:
- A Listing of Some Nicknames Used in the 18th & 19th Centuries
- Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents
- Vintage Nicknames for Girls
- 64 of the Best Old-Fashioned Boy Names
Below is a list of about 60 common names and nicknames.
| Name | Nickname |
|---|---|
| Abigail, Tabitha | Abbie, Abby |
| Abraham | Abe, Abra |
| Alexander | Alec, Alex |
| Alexander | Sandy |
| Alice | Allie |
| Alice | Elsie |
| Antoinette, Henrietta | Nettie |
| Archibald | Arch, Archie |
| August | Gus |
| Augustus | Augie |
| Bartholomew | Bart, Bat |
| C/Katherine | Kitty |
| Caroline | Callie, Carrie |
| Charlotte | Lollie, Lottie |
| Christopher | Kit |
| Clarissa, Clarinda | Clara |
| Cornelius | Con |
| Cyrus | Cy |
| Dorothy | Dolly, Dot |
| Edith | Edie |
| Edwin, Edward | Ned |
| Eleanor, Ellen, Helen | Nellie |
| Elizabeth | Bess, Betsey |
| Florence | Flora, Flossie |
| Frances | Fanny, Frankie |
| Hamilton | Ham |
| Harold, Henry | Hal |
| Harriet | Hatty |
| Henrietta, Louetta | Etta |
| Henry | Hank |
| Henry | Harry |
| Hiram | Hy |
| Isaac | Ike |
| Jackson, John | Jack |
| Jacob | Jake |
| Janet, Virginia | Jenny |
| Jedidiah | Jed |
| Josiah, Cyrus | Si, Cy |
| Katherine, Kathleen | Kate, Kay |
| Malachi, Malcolm | Mal |
| Margaret | Meg, Maggie |
| Margaret | Peggy |
| Margaret, Margery | Madge |
| Martha | Mattie |
| Martha | Patsy |
| Martha, Mary, Amelia | Mollie |
| Martha, Patience | Patty |
| Mary | Mamie |
| Mary | Polly |
| Mary, Wilhelmina | Minnie |
| Mindwell, Wilhelmina | Mina |
| Nathaniel | Nat, Nate |
| Newton | Newt |
| Oliver | Ollie |
| Patrick | Paddy |
| Phineas | Finney |
| Richard | Dick |
| Sarah | Sadie, Sally |
| Thaddeus | Tad |
| Virgil | Virg |
| Wiley, William | Willie, Bill |
| Winifred, Edwina | Winnie |
Use nicknames in your search criteria. You’ll be glad you did!
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