Today's show is brought to you by the letter K

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

Today I came across several K names, or hard C sounding names.  What is up with this?  Do you think parents with K names feel a greater need to pass on the sound than other parents?

Examples:
Dad: Klay
Sons: Kalob, Kamdon, Kolbon

Dad: Kevin
Mom: Kayleen (Kay)
Sons: Cole, Cameron, Carter (yes, these are spelled correctly with c's, but still have the same sound)

Mom: Kathy
Kids: Karla, Kiel

Nicknames as full names

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

Sorry for two posts in one day.

I was thinking the other day (and posted a little bit about this in the comments of an older post) about nicknames that are now seen as fully standalone names.  I was also thinking about nickname trends in general.

Traditional nicknames that are now full names:
John -> Jack
Elizabeth -> Eliza
Mary -> Molly
Lucille -> Lucy
Maximillian (and all others recently mentioned here) -> Max
Sarah -> Sally
Martha -> Matty

Can you think of any others?

And for trends in general:
Why did Mary become Molly, Sarah become Sally?  I understand Pauline to Polly, Patricia to Patty, but there is less connection between the others.  Perhaps because R and L are both liquid semi-vowels, and adding the -ly makes it a diminutive?  I can also see Martha to Matty, or Elizabeth to Betty since the TH is a hard sound to say and sometimes T is easier.  But why haven't other nicknames caught on?  Norah isn't Norry or Nolly.  Cecile isn't Ceily very often.  And where does Jack come from with John?

Do any of you have resources for nickname trends historically, or how they've changed over time?  Or any analysis of nicknames?

Thanks!

Switzerland - Most popular names 2009

[soph-posh.livejournal.com]

The official list for 2009 for Switzerland came out today...I figured I'd share with the community :)
( Top 20: German speaking areas )

( Top 20: French speaking areas )

( Top 20: Italian speaking areas )

( Top 20: Romansh speaking areas )