Question

In my family tree I have this person as named Pliney, could that be a nickname or a middle name?

Answer 1

I've seen men named Pliney and a female named Pauline who was called Pliney for short. Also, Pliney is a surname so a female in your family could have named a child after her maiden name of Pliney.

Comments

If you give more information about Pliney (male or female, birthdate and birth place, etc.) someone may be able to research the person and come up with the specific answer you want.

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Mine is the only Pliney I've ever heard of.  Don't have a lot on her.  Hard to believe it could be a very popular name! lol

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I've always pronounced it "Pl-eye-nee", like Piney.  If it's short for Pauline, perhaps it's "Pleenee"?  Sorta sounds like Pauliney, but all run together fast.  Like a nickname.  I'm going with that. Thanks!

Answer 2

hello. i have 2 people in my family tree with the name Pliney. on one i have a photo of the grave and the first name is Pliney. one is a man and one a woman. hope this helps some

Answer 3

You might want to google Pliney, there were 2 famous Romans, uncle and nephew named Pliney.  There were many children named after famous Greeks and Romans, not quite a rage in the 19th century, but fairly frequent, similar to naming children after presidents..  My great Grandfather was named Horace, his father-in-law was Augustus, other names like Olympia, Alexander and Cordeila turn up.

Answer 4

It could be a middle, or nickname....it is not out of the question.

But understand that naming conventions, popular names, common names, and acceptable names are not only subject to culture, but time period.

Many of our modern names would seem wierd to someone from 200 years ago, and vis-versa....even 60 years ago....

As said before, "Pliney' was used by 2 VERY FAMOUS <in their own lifetime> Romans, one does not have to dabble very much into Roman history before running into "blah blah blah" -Pliny the Elder 62AD

....and a living friend of mine (in mid 30's) is named Octavius....

Answer 5

Pliney or Pliny were not uncommon names in colonial America.  

The Romans Pliney the Younger and I think Pliney the Elder were both witnesses to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii.