Family Nicknames for Isobel, Ophelia, and Cressida?

Writers' Corner
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^^What it says in the title. These are three very well-off (old-money) sisters in a sort of vaguely Regency era alternate universe. I’m looking for a few short forms that they might call each other (not in front of other people), which can be as silly or unlikely as you wish. They also have a brother ([name]William[/name]) who may or may not get a nickname (suggestions welcome), and a father who actually doesn’t have a name yet at all (ditto).

I’m toying with [name]Ibbie[/name], Opel, and Resa, which I’d be happy to use, but I’d like to see some other thoughts. Besides, they can always use more than one pet name. My preference would be for unexpected or perhaps outrageously dated nns, but I’m easy going. They can absolutely be completely made up, or overly sweet, or based on the middle name, whatever. I just don’t see [name]Isobel[/name] as an [name]Issy[/name] or a [name]Belle[/name]/[name]Bella[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name] as a [name]Fifi[/name], or [name]Cressida[/name] as a [name]Cressie[/name], which makes me think of watercress.

[name]Just[/name] a little bit of background:
[name]Isobel[/name] [name]Francesca[/name] is the oldest sister. She’s very vain and acts superficial/fatuous around other people, especially men, but she is also very intelligent and manages all of the affairs of the manor/estate/large-posh-building-that-an-influential-family-would-own. In 2011 she’d probably be a very successful business women.

[name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Amaryllis[/name] is the middle sister, and very sweet natured. She’s the one everyone in the town likes. She’s wise but not really interested in either managing the house or academics. In 2011 she’d be probably own a cute little bakery selling designer cupcakes, etc.

[name]Cressida[/name] [name]Violet[/name] is the youngest sister, and a passionate student of biology. She’s the geek who gets so into what she’s studying she forgets to eat or sleep for days. She is also the most open to changing social norms (i did say it was alternate universe!), and in 2011 she’d probably be up for a Nobel prize.

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Fisrt of all, I love the name’s you’ve chosen! Their pretty, and classic! [name]Love[/name] love love! I like the nickname’s you’re toying with, they’re just unusual. And you’re right, if you’re naming your characters [name]Isobel[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name], and Cressidia then you dont’ want the usual nicknames. Which is really pretty cool. :slight_smile:

[name]Isobel[/name] Francessca: Whenever I think of [name]Isobel[/name] (no matter what the spelling) I always go to [name]Izzie[/name]/[name]Izzy[/name]. I don’t know if that’s too common for you. Possible middle name nicknames could be [name]Nessy[/name], [name]Franky[/name], or Cha Cha. Too much?
[name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Amaryllis[/name]: First of all, this is probably one of my favorite names ever now. It’s a good combination. The problem with [name]Ophelia[/name] is, no matter how pretty it is, it’s hard to think of a nickname. Opel is pretty good, and [name]Fifi[/name] is a bit…Eh. I can’t really think of much for her. Based on her personality, it could be something like [name]Sugar[/name], Sweetums, or soemthing else silly like that.
Cressidia [name]Violet[/name]: Another great name! When I think of Cressidia, I think something like Iddie, or [name]Essy[/name] or something along those lines. Based on her personality it could be something like Lady [name]Flower[/name] or something. I’m sorry, I wish I could be of more help!
Good luck with your writing!

  • [name]Athena[/name]
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[name]Isobel[/name] could be Soli/Solie.
[name]Ophelia[/name] could be Phia, [name]Lia[/name], Opie, or just [name]Fee[/name].
[name]Cressida[/name] could be [name]Sidda[/name] (my fave!), [name]Cris[/name], [name]Red[/name]/Reds, or [name]Ida[/name].

Any of those strike your fancy? :slight_smile:

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Oh, what marvelous names! Your story sounds good! For [name]Isobel[/name], I really like the nn “Isby” (IZ-[name]BEE[/name]). For [name]Ophelia[/name], I like [name]Helia[/name] (Heel-ya) or [name]Lila[/name] ([name]Lee[/name]-la). And for [name]Cressida[/name], I’m fond of [name]Sid[/name],[name]Ida[/name], [name]Essa[/name] or [name]Essie[/name]. :smiley:

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Thanks all for your suggestions! There are some real winners in there (I especially appreciate the suggestions for [name]Cressida[/name] because I thought Resa might be a bit of a stretch). I will most probably use Izby, Solie, Opie, [name]Fee[/name], [name]Essa[/name], [name]Sidda[/name], and Iddie as well as what I’d already got noted, and as well as some nicknames inspired by their personalities (good point about that, by the way). I come from a multiple nickname sort of family so that’s what I like best, and this really helps. :smiley:

Thanks also for the compliments on the names. The first names were settled pretty early on, but I struggled with the middle names – especially [name]Ophelia[/name]'s. I’m glad to know [name]Amaryllis[/name] was a good choice!

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[name]Isobel[/name]: Is, maybe [name]Issy[/name]. [name]Bella[/name] and the like will put the reader in a Twilight mindset.
[name]Ophelia[/name]: Opel, [name]Lia[/name], Big O (just kidding)
[name]Cressida[/name]: [name]Cressie[/name], [name]Essie[/name], Ress

I like the other nicknames, too. Very creative. [name]Hope[/name] I helped!

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I don’t know how other families work, but in mine, we nickname each other all sorts of things. Often they don’t even really have to do with the name. For example, my sister used to babble the same unintelligible phrase from her high chair, and to this day we use a corruption of that word as her nickname. But we also call her things that sound more like her real name.

So if I had three sisters called [name]Isobel[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name], and [name]Cressida[/name], here is what might have happened to their names. I’m trying to think what I might have done with them at the age of three or so – or if I were their particularly doting mother…

[name]Isobel[/name] – Izza, Ibbs, Ibbo, Ibbso, Illobit (can be shortened to Bit), Isbet, Ibbitt, Libbitt, [name]Lolo[/name], Belzo, Zobi, Lebosi (which could turn into [name]Le[/name] Bosi, or The Bosi). You can also attach “the” to anything, i.e. The Ibbso, or whatever.

[name]Ophelia[/name] – Opes, [name]Opal[/name], Ophie, Opher (which could then turn into Gopher), Feely, Lips, '[name]Phelia[/name], [name]Leelia[/name], Leefa, Leefer, [name]Felix[/name] (which I think is inevitable if you’ve got teasing sisters.)

[name]Cressida[/name] – Cress, Cresser, Cresto, [name]Sid[/name], Dessida, [name]Dessa[/name], Resto, Residue (teasing sisters again), Blessed (probably used sarcastically).

The thing to remember about nicknames is that something can easily turn into something else. You could start out with [name]Isobel[/name], have it turn into something like Illobit, have that turn into Bit, and from there you could get Bitter or Mittens or anything else really. Family nicknames are rarely rational.

Have you read anything about the Mitford sisters? Several of them called each other “[name]Henderson[/name]”, two were known as “Boud”, one was called “Stublow”, another “Woman”, and none of these names were related to their real names in any way. Conversely, [name]Jessica[/name] Mitford was called “Decca”, which isn’t a common nickname for it but makes sense. That’s more or less how family nicknames work. It’s helpful if they sound a bit like your original name, and probably more common, but they can just as easily NOT sound like them as well.

[name]Hope[/name] I helped!

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Thanks for the suggestions. The repeated suggestion of [name]Essa[/name] or [name]Essie[/name] for [name]Cressida[/name] is even making me bump it up in my “names I’d give my future children” list!

@maja, you’re quite right about family nicknames often being unrelated or based on mispronunciation/rhymes. We aren’t a terribly nicknamey family but two of mine (one family, one friend nn) rhyme with the last syllable of my name (lyn), and the family one is supposedly because I couldn’t pronounce the l. I especially love the idea of Illobit (shortened to Bit) and [name]Leelia[/name].

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For [name]Ophelia[/name] maybe, Ophie or [name]Lia[/name]?

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(I have two cousins named [name]Ophelia[/name] and [name]Isobel[/name], lol so I’m just putting our nicknames for them down)

[name]Isobel[/name]: [name]Izzy[/name], [name]Belle[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name]: Phee (fee), [name]Lia[/name]
[name]Cressida[/name]: [name]Ida[/name] (ee-da), [name]Essie[/name]

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For [name]Ophelia[/name], how about [name]Precious[/name] O, or just O? [name]Ophelia[/name] is such an elegant name, I would hate to downgrade it with a made-up sounding nickname.
[name]Lovely[/name] names!

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I love [name]Isobel[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name] & [name]Cressida[/name]!

For [name]Isobel[/name], I love [name]Io[/name].
For [name]Cressida[/name] I really like the suggestions of [name]Essie[/name], [name]Dessa[/name] & [name]Ida[/name], but I’ll add [name]Didi[/name].
For [name]William[/name], what about [name]Wim[/name] or [name]Ilya[/name]. Or he could be [name]William[/name] [name]Frederick[/name] ‘[name]Wilfred[/name]’, [name]William[/name] [name]Felix[/name] ‘Wilf’, [name]William[/name] [name]Conrad[/name]/[name]Cormac[/name] ‘Wilco’, etc.

Good luck!

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Thanks both!

@lemonlime128 - [name]Don[/name]'t worry, she’ll be [name]Ophelia[/name] most of the time. The main character isn’t one of the sisters and the sisters will probably only use the nicknames amongst family, in conversation. I feel the same way about [name]Isobel[/name] and [name]Cressida[/name], but family nns are special.

@[name]Araminta[/name] – Oh, I love [name]Io[/name]. [name]Isobel[/name] was one of my favourite names about 15 years ago and the space-y ness of [name]Io[/name] makes me wish that it wasn’t so popular now. It might just fit in with the sciencey theme, as well. Thanks for your suggestions re: [name]William[/name], too. He was already [name]William[/name] [name]Gabriel[/name] (I do like [name]Wim[/name] and [name]Ilya[/name] as maybe childhood mispronunciations that stuck), but I think his father might be [name]William[/name] [name]Frederick[/name], and called [name]Wilfred[/name]. I wanted them to share a name on paper but not in practice, and that’s a good way of doing it!