People are often addressed by a nickname in English-speaking countries, a nickname being an extra, unofficial name, not formally given by the parents or legally adopted by the person who bears it. In fifty sample novels, for example, where a full...

The term hypocoristic or "pet name" is used to refer to a nickname of affection between those in love or with a close emotional bond, compared with a term of endearment. The term diminutive name refers to nicknames that convey smallness of the names,...