How did they get the name d**k out of Richard?

Question

Anyone know the story?

Answer 1

go to

www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/d**k

be sure to click on the blue underlines which will give you even more details. Some of it is similar to one of the answers here, just more detail

Answer 2

Nicknames often come from shortening of names & rhyming or similiar sounding names to the original...

I've often heard Richard evolved into Rich... which became Rick... and from Rick became d**k.

A more complicated evolution was how the nickname "Peggy" came from the name "Margaret"

Answer 3

It goes way back to a guy name Richard Head that no one liked.

Answer 4

As far as a rhyme becoming the nickname, I sort of recall a little poem that goes something like this:

Father calls me Richard,

Mother calls me Rick,

Sister calls me Ricky;

But the gang calls me d**k.

Father calls me Robert,

Mother calls me Rob,

Sister calls me Robby;

But the gang calls me Bob.

Father calls me William,

Mother calls me Will,

Sister calls me Willie;

But the gang calls me Bill.

I SUPPOSE YOU CAN APPLY THE SAME TO MARGARET:

Father calls me Margaret,

Mother calls me Meg,

Sister calls me Margie;

But the gang calls me Peg.

Answer 5

In the 12th and 13th centuries, Richard and Ricard were popular names, and Richer was also common. Because at that time everything was written by hand, abbreviations were commonly used for all sorts of words, including names, to save time. "Rich." was used for "Richer" and "Ric." for "Richard" or "Ricard."

Abbreviations led naturally to diminutives such as Rich, Richie, and Rick.  Rhyming nicknames were also fairly common at that time, and so you easily get "Hitch" from Rich, and "d**k" from Rick.

Hence, Richard -> Ric -> Rick -> d**k.

Answer 6

carefully