"Short for" doesn't mean it actually has to be shorter. The Russians and Poles are specialists in having short versions of names that are actually longer than the original. The point is that it's a cuter-sounding, less formal version of the name - some people keep using it for all their life, others only as a child. Surely you didn't think that prince Harry of the UK had actually been baptized as "Harry"? In much the same way that Cheney wasn't baptized "Dick", Clinton wasn't baptized "Bill", and so on. If anything I think the Americans at least do this kind of thing at least as often as the British.
As for Prince Harry, I never really thought about it, in the same way that I never assumed that Harry Potter's first name might not be Harry. I mean, it is, isn't it? Or is he really Henry Potter? Say it ain't so.
I know we do use short versions and nicknames a lot here too. I mean, I go by Nate, after all. I had just never heard of "shortening" Henry to Harry before. As far as I know, the short version of Henry over here is Hank.
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Nate reads Stephen King, Book 5: Night Shift
- 14/03/2012 04:18:33 AM
1201 Views
Final Thoughts
- 14/03/2012 04:30:45 AM
992 Views
So many awful movies made from these stories.
- 14/03/2012 07:24:39 PM
793 Views
I remember a few of these.
- 15/03/2012 01:08:31 AM
664 Views
I had read it once before too, long ago.
- 15/03/2012 08:58:22 PM
667 Views
I've read a lot of King short stories, but these don't seem familiar.
- 15/03/2012 10:20:53 PM
616 Views
I'm only fascist on weekends.
- 16/03/2012 03:57:21 AM
960 Views
Re: I'm only fascist on weekends.
- 16/03/2012 08:23:27 PM
877 Views
Re: I'm only fascist on weekends.
- 16/03/2012 08:38:15 PM
713 Views