answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Oh, dude, it's like magic, but not really. So, back in the day, people used to love shortening names because, you know, efficiency and stuff. So, Robert got the snazzy nickname Bob because someone decided to chop off a few letters. Voila! Bob was born. It's like the evolution of names, man.

User Avatar

DudeBot

βˆ™ 1d ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

βˆ™ 7mo ago

The name 'Robert' likely evolved into the nickname 'Bob' through a process called rhyming slang. People often shorten names or words by using rhyming patterns to make them easier to say. In this case, the shortening of 'Robert' to 'Bob' followed this pattern.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 10y ago

"Robert" is originally from the Norman French and means "of bright fame." It was originally pronounced similar to as it is in contemporary French (and German): "Roe'-bear." As the name became popular and was translated into various other languages, it retained its essential form. Thus, it is "Roberto" in Spanish and the common nickname for it is "Beto," which plays off of the latter part of the name's sound.

Thus, if translators from English to Spanish want to translate "Bob" or "Bobby," they should properly use Beto as opposed to Roberto because both are nicknames and thus form the closest equivalent. Since "Bob" or "Bobby" doesn't exist in the Spanish language, the derivation of the nickname obviously has nothing to do with that language. (Bobby does exist in German as "Bobbi.") "Bob" is derived from the first part of Robert, and not its latter part as with its Spanish nickname. (Note: Some Hispanic men named Roberto have chosen to call themselves "Bob" strictly due to the American influence.

When taken into English, Robert retained the same spelling but was simply pronounced somewhat differently: "Rah'-bert." As is common with English names, the name was eventually shortened to "Rob" as a nickname and "Robby" for a boy. Fads and fashions come and go and "Robin" was also popular for awhile until people started naming girls that.

However, the most common and enduring nickname through the years has been "Bob," and--as is common with boys names in English--adding the short "i" (or "y") sound to form the diminutive for boys. The probable reason why Bob stuck and has endured so long is the palindrome nature of "Bob" and the fact that it rolls off the tongue so easily. Also, "Bobby" sounds so naturally boyish and was for years the quintessential American boy's name.

"Bob" was rhymed from "Rob" and stuck (as "Dob" did not after a brief period of usage) in the same way that "Dick" was rhymed from "Rick," which itself is a corruption of "Rich," which is short for Richard. Another example of a nickname via the rhyming process is "Bill" from "Will," short for William.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How did the name 'Robert' turn into the nickname of 'Bob'?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Linguistics

Why is Bobby a nickname for Robert?

"Bobby" is a common nickname for "Robert" because of a process called rhyming slang. In the past, nicknames were often created by shortening or altering a person's actual name to make it more casual and friendly. In this case, "Bob" was a common short form of "Robert," and "Bobby" emerged as a rhyming variation.


How did Robert turn into Bob and William turn into Bill?

Nicknames like Bob and Bill originated as shortened versions of longer names for convenience. In the case of Robert, "Rob" evolved into "Bob" through a process called rhyming or phonetic metamorphosis. Similarly, "Will" from William transitioned into "Bill" following the same pattern.


What is the nickname of?

Robbie, Bob or Bobbie.


Why is Bob short for Robert an Dick short for Richard?

The nickname "Bob" evolved from the medieval English pronunciation of "Rob" from "Robert." Similarly, "Dick" developed from the rhyming slang in the Middle Ages where "Rick" from "Richard" evolved into "Dick." Over time, these shortened forms became commonly used nicknames.


Which noun is Bob?

The noun 'Bob' (capital B) is a proper noun, the name (usually a nickname) of a specific person.The noun 'bob' (lower case b) is a common noun, a general word for an up and down movement; woman's or child's short haircut; a weight hanging from a fishing line; a word for a thing.The word 'bob' is also a verb: bob, bobs, bobbing, bobbed.

Related questions

How did the name 'robert' turn into the nickname of 'dick'?

It does not. Robert is shortened to Rob Robby, Robbie or Bob. Richard is shortened to Rich, Ricky and Dick


What is a palindrome for Robert's nickname?

Bob


What is mr incredible's real name?

Robert park. His nickname is bob. ......."


Is bob a Latin name?

No, it's Anglo-Saxon. Robert (from which the nickname Bob comes) means "Shining with fame."


How do spell bobby as a boys name?

The male given name "Bobby" or Bob is often a nickname for Robert.


Who names their son Bob?

Parents who like simple and traditional names may choose to name their son Bob. Bob is a common nickname for names like Robert or Bobby. It's a classic and easy-to-pronounce name that some parents may prefer.


What is the nickname of Robert?

Robbie, Bob or Bobbie.


Why is Bob short of Robert?

"Bob" is a common nickname for "Robert" because in the Middle Ages, "Rob" was a diminutive of Robert, and adding an extra letter "b" created "Bob." This shorter version was easier to say and became a popular nickname.


How did Bob become a nickname for Robert?

i think it is because Bob rymes with Rob


Where did the name Bob come from in Bob Marleys name?

'Bob' is a nickname for 'Rob'/'Robert'. Other versions are ' Robbie', and 'Bobbie'. 'Roberta' is the female form of the name. It originiated in the Highlands of Scotland. ; As King Robert the Bruce.


What is Robert Laurence Stines nickname?

bob jovial


What is the Palindromes for Robert's nickname?

Radar, like the character Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly on MASH.