Posted 07 August 2008 - 09:21 PM
Huh...that's really interesting..I just looked that up. Effie Kaligaris. The reason I find that interesting is the character in the movie, the Kaligaris family, is supposed to be Greek, correct? (I didn't see the movie, but it's what I heard). Yet "Effie" is actually a very common nickname for Dutch women. Hmm, maybe she immigrated, lol!
Yes, Effie is actually a nickname (in real life I'm talking, not Hollywood glitz and glam) for many Dutch names. Some that it can be used for: Eefje, Eefke, Efteling, Ifje, Eeuw, etc.
Besides those wonderfully cultural names, it is also a nickname for the ancient Greek name Euphemia. Which of course, would make much more sense, since the Kaligaris family in the movie is Greek. Euphemia "Effie" Kaligaris. Yeah. Nevermind my Dutch naming comments lol.
So that answers your first question. Onto the other part of your thread, I've noticed a new trend in naming nowadays. Before, people loved full names, and were concerned about what nicknames they could make out of them. "Ooh, I love Elizabeth! Do you guys know any unique nicknames?" Nowadays, people like a certain nickname, and want a funky new full name to match it. "I love the nickname Ellie, what name could I make out of that? What about Hannelore?!" It's very curious, don't you think?
I really quite hate it when parents pick out their child's nickname. I think that as parents, it is their right to pick out a name, but their child has full choice on what nickname they give themselves. It only seems fair! I really hate it when I see parents saying things like "Oh I love this name, but I hate this nickname that goes along with it" Well maybe your kid will like that nickname, it's not your decision. So na na!
Moving on to my name, Elizabeth, I truly believe it has more nicknames than any other name in the world. Really. I can think of twenty off of the top of my head. I also hate the nickname I gave myself LOL. Liz. Ugh. It sounds so... masculine? I don't know. I think it sounds boyish, personally. Everybody tells me Liz sounds chic. If I had a choice I'd choose Elle as my nickname now, if I could change it, but I can't. I've lived on this planet for twenty years and everybody knows me as Liz! haha