Scottish nicknames are very different also. I have an ancestor who's given name was Alexander but his nickname was Sandy. Here in the US a nickname often sounds like our given name like Will for William or Billy or Bill. But for the Scottish the name is totally different than their given name. In the US especially in the New England States I find nicknames are a little different also. My grandmother's given name was Pearl but her nickname was Pet. Her niece's given name is Grace but her nickname is Tootsie. My husband's uncles name was Everett his nickname was Beb. Who knows where they get it from? :) Joan