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From:
Subject: Re: This forename of NANNY
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 14:44:56 EDT



In a message dated 28/09/2004 19:13:56 GMT Daylight Time,
writes:

If anyone has access to a Chambers Dictionary a lot of first names and their

diminutives are listed in the back.

Ann, Anne, Anna and Hannah are variants of this name with the diminutives
given as Anita, Anneka, Annika, Annette, Annie, Nan, Nana, Nance, Nancy,
Nanna, Nannie, Nanny, Nina, Ninette, Ninon. To confuse things even more,
Nance and Nancy are also diminutives of Agnes


According to the Oxford Names Companion, under the Index of first names
there are these:

1) Nan (f) English: originally a pet form of ANN (for the initial N-, cf.
NED). It is generally now used as a short form of NANCY.
Pet forms: Scottish: Nanny (Gaelic Nandag).

2) Nanna (f) Scandinavian: from the old Norse mythological woman's name
Nanna, a derivative of the elemement namp daring.

3) Nanne (m) Swedish: originally a short form of the the Old Norse personal
name Nannulf, composed of the elements namp daring + ulfr wolf. Nowadays it is
used a a pet form of Anders.

Hope this helps

Robin


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