Baldo by Hector D. Cantú and Carlos Castellanos for February 07, 2020

avocado, aguacate… let’s call the whole thing off (los hijos de Sergio también usan “hipocorísticos”: Baldomero/Baldo y Graciela/Gracie)

From Wikipedia:

A hypocorism, also called a hypocoristicon, is a diminutive form of a name. Hypocorisms include pet names or calling names, often a diminutive or augmentative form of a word or given name when used as a nickname or term of endearment.

Seems like Baldo could use some diversity in friends.

Ah. “Eke names”.

Must live in So. Buffalo everyone has a nickname

Hypocorism sounds like something nasty you’d need to be vaccinated for. I like the term “nickname” better.

Who knew – a cartoon and a grammar lesson in one strip!

I can figure the names by the nickname, they’re actually the same in all the Romance languages. Even when they make no sense in the particular language. For example Pepe for Joseph in French or Jose in Spanish. They’re basically Italian but for a few, like Chuey for Jesus. Now in MY family they were out of hand, as someone pointed out to us that every member of the family answered to 7 different names.

Does anyone know the actual names these nicknames are short for?

Hypocorism is Hoity Toity for “Babytalk”.

Hypocorism is a hoity toity word for “Baby Talk”.

The closest any of us had to a nickname was the use of just the first syllable of our names to save time such as Ran for Randi within our immediate family. My parents were always referred to by family and friends by their full name as were my cousins and aunts and uncles.

I have an alternate name now, but only for use at reenactments as my first name is not period appropriate as well as husband and I do not want to give thousands (literally) of strangers that we talk to at events our names. That name is Anne, my 18th century alternative self’s name. (As “she” likes to say “Named after good queen Anne – the last of the English monarchs before the Germans took over.”)