Names

[nappycat]

I am trying to trace the marriage of an uncle, his wife's name was Nell. Now I have found a likely one but the woman's name is Doris. Has anyone heard of Nell being a substitute for Doris?

[Little Nell]

No. Nell is short for Ellen/Eleanor/Helen etc. (I should know!)
But its possible the lady was called Nell as a pet name for some other reason, or she may have been Eleanor Doris, or Doris Elinor or something like that of course.

[nappycat]

Thanks Little Nell I thought you might know!!
I have very vague memories as a child of asking this aunt why her name was really Doris, but I could be imagining this to 'fit in'!
I am sending for the marriage certificate to see if I am right.

[kelly smith]

Hi Rita I have an aunty Dorris whos real name is Cynthia as a child she used to ask for her doe doe and it stuck which eventually got changed to Dorris so perhaps it is a pet name?!?

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

I am trying to trace the marriage of an uncle, his wife's name was Nell. Now I have found a likely one but the woman's name is Doris. Has anyone heard of Nell being a substitute for Doris?

Did they have children? You could try looking for possible birth regs with Doris' maiden name to see if the jigsaw fits.....Won't be very conclusive if one of them was called Smith though

[nappycat]

Thanks Kelly and Merry. Merry the reason I am questioning 'Doris' is because of a child, (still living I think). The surname is quite a common one, which is why I am hesitating about the certificate. I think I will bite the bullet and go for it.