Is Sally short for anything?
Yes, usually. In old records Sally mostly appears as a pet form of Sarah, though plenty of families gave it as a name in its own right. No other formal name claims it in the records we track. Expect it in American and British records, mostly 1700s-1900s. When a census shows Sally, check the family's other papers for a Sarah before you decide which reading you have.
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FAQs
Is Sally a nickname?+
Usually. Most records that say Sally trace back to a Sarah, but some families used it as the full given name.
Is Sally a real name on its own?+
Yes - it also appears as a standalone given name, especially in later eras. Earlier records lean toward Sarah.
How does this nickname lookup work?+
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