hypocoristic

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὑποκοριστικός (hupokoristikós), from ὑποκορίζομαι (hupokorízomai, “I speak in the language of children”), from ὑπό (hupó, “below”) + κορίζομαι (korízomai, “I act like a girl”), from κόρη (kórē, “girl”).

adj

1. Relating to a nickname, usually indicating intimacy with the person.
   English surnames which end in -oe usually began as nicknames, since -oe is a Middle English hypocoristic suffix.
2. Relating to baby talk.

noun

1. A nickname, especially one indicating intimacy and formed through a shortening of the original name.