Italians and their fascination with short nicknames

"Paul? Who's Paul?" we asked our table companion during the annual village lunch on the bar terrace. We didn't understand who he meant; we'd never heard of a man named Paul, even though our little hamlet has no more than a few dozen inhabitants. Was Paul a recluse who never went outside?

"Pierpaul!" was the surprising answer. "Oh, Pier!" we exclaimed enthusiastically. Yes, we knew him. The good-natured carpenter with his workshop next to our garden who only had seven fingers left: the result of a few industrial accidents. So his name was Pierpaul! We didn't know that, and apparently some people called him Pier and others Paul. Apparently, our fellow Italian villagers think Pierpaul is too tall.

Short, shorter, shortest

Italians like short nicknames to refer to someone in everyday life. First names are good for fiscal Code and bureaucratic forms, but you don't use those among friends.

Therefore, many formal given names in Italian have alternative, short surnames. Many of these names have become so common that the bearer is rarely called by their full name.

These shortened forms arise in different ways: by shortening (e.g. Giovanni → Gianni), by diminutives with suffixes like -ino/-ina (Giuseppe → Giuseppino → Pino) or by repetition/distortion of a sound (Salvatore → Totò).

Regional customs also play a role. For example, the nickname for the same first name sometimes varies by region.

Here I'll give you an overview of common nicknames, so that when an Italian uses such a name, you know who he means.

Male call names

Antonio – Tonino, Toni, Totò, Nino (also Antò)

Tonino is a diminutive, Toni is created by shortening the name, and Totò is a dialect nickname (especially in Naples and the surrounding area) formed by repeating the "to" sound. The abbreviation Nino is common in southern Italy. Antò is a regional abbreviation.

Domenico – Mimmo, Mico

Mimmo is mainly used in southern Italy. Its origin is phonetic: possibly via the diminutive form Domenico → Domenichino → Mimmo. Mico is an alternative abbreviation, especially in Calabria.

Francesco – Franco, Checco/Cecco, Ciccio

Franco is formed by combining the first and last syllables of Francesco and has also become a separate name. Checco/Cecco are older shortened forms (historically, e.g., in Tuscany/Veneto; the poet Francesco Petrarch was called Cecco). Ciccio (pronounced "Tjietsjjo") is an informal nickname, especially in the south, often used affectionately.

Giuseppe – Pino, Peppe (and Peppino), Beppe

Giuseppe has many short variants. Pino is created by first creating the diminutive Giuseppino and using the last part. Peppe is created by doubling the second syllable (Giuseppe → Pep-pe), and Peppino is a diminutive of this. Beppe is the Tuscan variant of Peppe.

Pasquale – Lino, Paco

Pasquale is often given the diminutive name Pasqualino. A popular nickname is Lino, created by shortening Pasqualino. Paco is occasionally used in Naples.

Salvatore – Salvo, Turi, Totò, Tore, Sasà

Salvo is a simple abbreviation. Turi is a Sicilian nickname (from Turiddu, a dialectal diminutive). Totò also occurs with Salvatore; especially in Neapolitan contexts, you'll see both Antonio and Salvatore using the nickname Totò. Tore cuts off the first syllable. There are also strongly dialectal forms such as Sasà (Neapolitan).

Vincenzo – Enzo, Cenzo, Vincenzino, Cece

Enzo is the best-known abbreviation, derived from the last sound group. Enzo is also the shortened form of Lorenzo and is now often used as a separate first name. Cenzo (pronounced Tsjenzo) is an alternative. Vincenzino is a diminutive often used for a young Vincenzo. Cece (pronounced Tjetsje) is an affectionate nickname with a repetition of the second sound.

Luigi – Gigi

Gigi (pronounced Jie-jie) is derived from Luigi by repetition of the Gi sound.

Filippo – Pippo

Pippo is a classic nickname for Filippo. The name is shortened by repeating the pi sound with a modified consonant. Interestingly, Pippo is also used as a nickname for Giuseppe, depending on the region.

Lorenzo-Renzo, Enzo

In Renzo, the first syllable, Lo-, is simply dropped. Enzo can also originate from Lorenzo.

Alessandro – Sandro, Ale

Sandro is created by omitting the first syllable. This abbreviation is so standard that Sandro also occurs as a standalone name. Informally, it's often also called Ale, simply the first two syllables. In modern usage, Alex appears, following the English example, but traditionally, Sandro is more common.

Leonardo – Leo, Dino

Leo is the obvious abbreviation of the first syllable. Dino is a more interesting abbreviation: first form the diminutive Leonardino and then take the last part from it.

Giovanni – Gianni, Nino

Gianni is the standard nickname for Giovanni (compare the transition from Johannes to Jan in the Netherlands). Gianni has been used as a nickname for centuries. Nino, in turn, originated from the diminutive form.

Other common boy's names follow similar patterns. For example, Giorgio is often called Gigi or Gio, Raffaele in Naples is called Lello or Lele, Emanuele is called Lele, Daniele is called Dani, Stefano is called Stef, and so on.

In modern times we also see influence from international usage: for example, Massimiliano or Massimo is sometimes given the English style nickname Max, Federico → Freddy/Fede, and Alessandro → Alex, but these are not originally Italian forms.

Female nicknames

Traditional shortened nicknames are slightly less common with female given names than with male ones. Women often retain their full names, or use forms that lengthen them rather than shorten them. Here are some examples:

Giovanna – Vanna, Gianna, Gia, Giannina

Giovanna (the feminine form of Giovanni) has several forms. Gianna and Giannina are common variations. Vanna is created by omitting Gio-. Gia is a more modern abbreviation.

Giuseppina – Pina, Giusy/Giusi, Peppina

Giuseppina is the feminine form of Giuseppe. This name is almost always shortened to Pina. Giusy (or spelled Giusi) is a more modern pet name that originated as a fashionable abbreviation in the 20th century. Peppina is the diminutive form. In the past, family members would affectionately call a young Giuseppina Peppinella.

Maria – Mari, Marietta/Mariuccia et al

Maria is not usually shortened in Italian. It's usually just called Maria. The nicknames are more likely diminutives that lengthen: for example, a Maria might be called Mariuccia or Marietta as a child. Mari is sometimes used informally within the family, but it's not a permanent nickname.

Anna – Annina, Annuccia

Anna is already short; there's no common abbreviation. Instead, Anna is often given an extended pet name. Annina, and in some dialects (e.g., Roman, Neapolitan), one hears Annuccia.

Alessandra – Sandra, Alessia, Ale

Sandra is created by dropping the prefix. Alessia was originally a diminutive nickname, but has become so popular that it's considered a proper name. Informally, Ale is also often used.

Caterina – Rina, Cati (sometimes Cate/Katy)

Rina is the ending of Caterina and is a traditional nickname in Italy. Cati (pronounced Káh-ti) is also used as a shorthand. Younger generations sometimes adopt the English forms: Cate (Kate) or Katy.

Elisabetta – Betta, Betty, Elisa, Eli, Lisetta

Betta is a very common nickname. Betty herself is also sometimes used, but pronounced the Italian way (Bèt-ti). Elisa is also used as a shorthand. There are also informal nicknames like Eli or Lisetta.

Concetta – Cettina, Cetta, Tina, Cece

Concetta is traditionally popular primarily in the south. The name is often shortened to Concettina, of which Cettina is the nickname. Cetta is also common. Many Concettas also go by Tina, a more common shortening that simply uses the last letters. In some regions, it is also heard as Cece (pronounced Tetsje).

Francesca – Franci/Fra, Chicca (formerly Cecca/Ciccia)

Francesca has informal abbreviations such as Franci (or Francy, with a y) and Fra – these are simple abbreviations of the name. Historically and regionally, however, specific nicknames are also known. For example, in the past in Veneto, Francesca was often called Checca/Cecca.

Elsewhere, Chicca (pronounced Kiek-ka) is more common; this is an affectionate nickname meaning "sweetheart" but often given to Francesca. (Checca is now avoided outside Veneto because it has acquired a pejorative meaning in modern colloquialisms.)

Beatrice – Bea, Bice

Bea is the standard abbreviation of Beatrice. Sometimes Bice is also used, especially historically: the poet Dante affectionately called his beloved Beatrice Portinari "Bice."

We also see diminutive and euphemisms for other women's names. Veronica is also called Vero, Gabriella → Gabry or Ella, Patrizia → Patty, Simona → Simo, Martina → Tina, and Chiara is sometimes called Chiaretta (diminutive) but not a shorter form.