Where Did the Term Nickname Come from?
In This Case, the Middle English Word Eke, Meaning “Also” or “In Addition, ” Was Joined with Name to Form Ekename—Literally, “Also-Name, ” Used for a Secondary...
In this case, the Middle English word eke, meaning “also” or “in addition,” was joined with name to form ekename—literally, “also-name,” used for a secondary or unofficial name in the late Middle Ages. Over time, an ekename became a nickname presumably because eke had become less familiar as a word.
Who created the word nickname?
The Origin Of The Nickname Term
One of the first instances where the 'eke name' was actually documented took place back in the year 1303. This happened in Middle English devotional Handlyng Synne. That was written by Robert Manning of Brunne. From there, the 'ekename' ultimately evolved to the term 'nickname.
Why is Peggy a nickname for Margaret?
It seems like there should be a long explanation for Daisy, but it's as simple as this: The French word for "daisy" is "marguerite." As for Peggy? Well, Margaret was shorted to nicknames like Meg or Meggy, and the rhyming nickname trend turned Meggy into Peggy.