不管是古代中国，还是日本，美国，通过对一个人的称谓可以透露彼此距离的远近。

中国人包括学生和学者来到美国，开始不知道如何称呼对方，

但是要有条件：

Abraham → Abe，Anthony → Tony Benjamin, Benedict → Ben, Benny Carolyn → Carol, Lyn, Carrie/Cary，Christopher → Chris, Criffer, Topher Deborah → Deb, Debby Elizabeth → Eliza, Libby, Liz, Lizzy, Lisa, Beth, Bess Fiona → Fi Gregory → Greg Jacob → Jake；Jonathan → Jon, John, Nathan；Joseph → Joe, Joey Katherine → Kate, Katy, Kathy；Katrina → Kat, Trina Matthew → Matt；Megan → Meg Nathan, Nathaniel → Nat, Nate Peter → Pete, Petey；Priscilla → Cilla, Priss, Cilly, Prissy Raymond → Ray；Robert → Rob, Bert, Bob Samuel, Samantha → Sam, Sammy Stephanie → Steph, Annie, Stephy Victoria → Tori, Vick, Vicky Zachary → Zach

虽然最常用于儿童的名字，也用于成人，尤其在家人，朋友和熟人之间：

Alexander, Alexandra → Sandy；Anne → Annie；Arthur, Arturo → Art → Artie；Andrew → Andy → Drew Barnaby → Barney Daniel → Dan → Danny；David → Dave → Davy Dennis → Denny； Edwin, Edward, Edmund → Ed → Eddie, Eddy；Elaine → Lainie Franklin→ Frank → Frankie George → Georgie Isabella → Izzy James → Jamie；Jessica → Jess → Jessie；Joel, Joseph → Joe → Joey Jonathan → Jon, John → Jonnie, Johnnie, Johnny Katherine → Katie；Kimberly → Kim → Kimmy；Kenneth → Ken → Kenny Lawrence → Larry；Louis → Lou → Louie Nicholas → Nick → Nicky Oliver → Ollie Ronald → Ron → Ronnie； Rosemary → Rose → Rosie/Rosy Stephen → Steve → Stevie；Susan → Sue → Susie, Suzy Thomas → Tom → Tommy；Timothy → Tim → Timmy；Tobias → Toby William → Will, Bill, Willie, Willy, Billy

这种情况下，可能更多的是照顾发音。

Barbara → Babs Charles → Chuck → Chaz → Chicka Dorothy → Dot, Dottie Edward → Ted, Teddy (如 Edward “Ted” Kennedy)；Eleanor, Helen → Nell, Nellie；Elizabeth → Bess, Bessie Gerald → Jerry Henry → Hal, Hank, Harry James → Jim → Jimbo, Jimmy；John → Jack Katherine → Kitty Margaret → Peggy, Peg, Meg Philippa → Pippa, Pip or Pippy Richard → Dick Sarah → Sally Theodore → Ted, Teddy Virginia → Ginger, Ginny

英文名字的昵称爱称