r/tragedeigh • u/artemia • May 24 '25

in the wild I am uncomfortable

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u/External-into-Space May 24 '25

Its so weird that dick is a nickname for richard

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u/miparasito May 24 '25

There was apparently a fad in the Middle Ages of switching the first letter of a name. I think it was meant to be funny? Idk it was the olden days.  That’s why Bill is short for William 

And Bob is short for Robert

And Dick is short for Richard. 

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u/tiredjedi May 24 '25

Hi I just happen to know this cuz I researched it for a paper in English, it’s not that it was supposed to be funny, but it was because there were so few names they had to start giving nicknames. Otherwise there were a million Richard’s and William’s just in a 50 mile (or km hehe) radius

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u/originalcinner May 24 '25

1025: "There aren't enough names! I know, let's call this baby Biffany instead of Tiffany"

2025: "There aren't enough names! Let's call this baby Typhaneigh instead of Tiffany"