How did the name 'Robert' turn into the nickname of 'Bob'?

Answer 1

"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.