Donna, According to the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable at www.bartleby.com it's because the "r" in many names gets changed to an "l" in nicknames. Below is their entry, it doesn't answer why but I would guess it would have to do with the various dialects spoken in the British Isles and the difference between the Romance, German and Celtic-based languages of the early inhabitants and their descendents. E. Cobham Brewer 1810-1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. Polly. Mary. The change of M for P in pet names is by no means rare; e.g.- 1 Margaret. Maggie or Meggy, becomes Peggie, and Pegg or Peg. 2 Martha. Matty becomes Patty. 3 Mary. Molly becomes Polly or Poll. 4 Here we see another change by no means unusual-that of r into l or ll. Similarly, Sarah becomes Sally; Dorothea, Dora, becomes Dolly; Harry, Hal. Sincerely, Jon Musgrave www.IllinoisHistory.com -----Original Message----- From: Donna Simons [mailto:donnal@core.com] Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 8:33 PM To: ILWILLIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [Wmsn Co IL] Mary/Polly Can anyone tell me why women named Mary were called Polly or women named Polly called Mary.