I've never liked Mildred. I hope it's not one my daughter is considering for her girl, due in early May. Maybe they'll call her May! (But please not Mabel ?) Or April, if she comes early.... I think some diminutive forms arose because certain names are so hard for other children to pronounce. My parents would never allow anyone to mess with my name so my younger cousins had to try very hard! I got Aluffafuff, which became Fuff, and Alushabush, which inevitably became Bush! Bepbep was another version. Our next door neighbour called me Lizzypopbottle when I was about three or four years old, much to my disgust! I never liked Lizzie because my mother's Auntie Lizzie was a formidable looking harridan in born rimmed specs but when, as a teacher, I had pretty little Lizzie in my class, I was converted. ☺