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Toni Bronk Toni Bronk
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March 10, 2011
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Resolved Question

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How is "Billy" the nickname of "William"?

I don't understand how... lol

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I'm seriousss, EVERY guy i know by the name of Billy, their actual name is William... x_x

2 years ago

Keyboard Warrior by Keyboard Warrior
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February 04, 2011
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Kinda like how Robert is the nickname of Bob
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Other Answers (6)

  • Lili by Lili
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    Why is "Bob" the nickname for "Robert"? Or "Ted" for "Edward"? Or "Dick" for "Richard"?

    These nicknames tend to be very old. They often developed because the people of one group couldn't quite pronounce the names in another group. The Anglo-Saxons had trouble with certain sounds in Norman names after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, so they came up with their own versions and nicknames using sounds that came more easily to them.

    "William" is an old Norman name.
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  • Bilbo by Bilbo
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    Medieval tradition of rhyming nicknames - or swapping the letter R for either L or D (also B for W or R, and P for M

    Eg Richard Rick then Dick
    So Wiilliam, Will, then Bill

    Similarly
    Margaret, Meg, then Peg
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  • ahhahahahhahhahhahahah by ahhahaha...
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    How is "bob" the nickname for "Robert"
    I'm sure one guy called his friend Billy and his name was william and it started like that ......... A long time ago

    Source(s):

    Me:)
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  • Dart by Dart
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    Some letters get switched for others in nicknames.

    You need to ask this of an etymologist, it has nothing to do with royalty. Nothing at all.
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  • ? by ?
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    April 07, 2011
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    The question should be how is dick (might be starred I don't know) the nickname for richard
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  • Riya by Riya
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    December 04, 2010
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    It depends upon the person let them want they want.
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